Deputy remembered for his natural talent
By Erin Albanese
Grand Rapids Press
BARRY COUNTY, Mich. — Police work came naturally for Deputy Christopher Yonkers, and it was a talent noticed by his co-workers at the Barry County Sheriff’s Department.
Yonkers, 43, of Hastings, died Saturday while off-duty when a car turned in front of his motorcycle along M-43 near Usborne Road in Carlton Township.
“There are some people who have a natural instinct to do police work. Chris was one of those guys who had that knack,” Sheriff Dar Leaf said. “He was a very good leader. He was a lot of fun to work with, and he was an all-around good cop.”
Yonkers worked for the department for 12 years.
His talents in drug enforcement stood out, and he was a longtime member of that sheriff’s unit.
“He was very good at that. ... You can teach that, but some guys just have it naturally,” Leaf said.
He also was a proud father of five children, ages 10 to 17, and enjoyed riding his Indian motorcycle on long trips with his wife, Kari, and friends.
Leaf said many in his department are grieving and shocked by Yonkers’ death.
“We all looked at him like he was tough as nails, and he was. To have an accident like that shocked us pretty bad,” Leaf said.
Authorities continue to investigating the crash. The driver, a 24-year-old from Hastings, has not been ticketed or charged with a crime, state police said.
A candlelight vigil for Yonkers will be at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on the lawn of the Barry County Courthouse, 220 W. State St. in Hastings.
The funeral is planned for 1 p.m. Thursday at the Barry County Expo Center, 1350 N. M-37.
Copyright 2008 Grand Rapids Press