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DETROIT (WJBK) - It's been almost a year since Sgt. Colin Rose of Wayne State University was shot and killed in the line of duty. Rose was investigating possible thefts of navigation systems from cars when he spoke to someone on a bicycle. That man pulled out a gun and shot him.
Around this time last year, Rose was organizing a special event to honor Detroit police officer Patrick Hill, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2013. Rose planned to do the event again this year, but, sadly, Rose died after getting shot just a few weeks later on November 23, 2016.
On Wednesday, the tradition was carried on. The ceremony was held again but, this time, honoring Rose.
Wayne State University Police Chief Tony Holt remembers when Rose came to him in 2016 with the idea.
"'Officer Hill's code name was Wolverine. I want to hold a memorial service for him, and I want to name my dog in honor of him Wolverine. I want to put it together,' -- I said okay," Holt recalls.
Rose made sure to include Hill's widow in the planning process, and the two became fast friends.
"He organized the entire thing; he didn't make me do nothing," Deodge Hill says. "I literally showed up and just spoke, and it was actually very awesome. Chief Holt was just like, hey, this was such a nice event. Let's do this every year."
It was at that event one year ago that the iconic photograph of Sgt. Rose with the brown and gray dog, Wolverine, was taken. Just one month later, the picture was sadly used by media outlets all over the state when Rose was shot and killed.
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"It's just ironic and it's tragic, but it's just unbelievable I would be here, holding a second event for Officer Hill and Sgt. Rose," Chief Holt says.
"It's like, god, why did you send him to me if you were going to take him away? The kids loved him, loved to be with him and the dog," Deodge says. "People don't know what to do or say in stuff like this, and we just come here and eat together and honor a good cause, say a few words. It means more than nothing."
And, taking it a step further, the event has become a fundraiser. Seven total scholarships have been given out in honor of Officer Hill and Sgt. Rose.
Plans are also in the works to create a permanent memorial for all fallen officers in Michigan. It will be located in Lansing.