ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. – A Michigan officer who was shot and killed on duty was remembered at his funeral Thursday, attended by hundreds of police from across the state and the nation, as a man who loved dogs and who loved to smile.

Wayne State University Officer Collin Rose, 29, was shot in the head Nov. 22 as he tried to make an arrest in a neighbourhood near the Detroit campus.

“He made people smile. He went out of his way to make people’s lives a bit better,” the Rev. Msgr. G. Michael Bugarin told a packed congregation inside St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in suburban St. Clair Shores.

Rose’s dogs, Wolverine and Clyde, were inside his police vehicle when he was shot. On Thursday, Wolverine watched outside the church when Rose’s casket was brought out to the hearse.

Rose’s friend and Wayne State police investigator Chris Powell said Clyde is overcome with grief.

Wayne State Police Chief Anthony Holt said “people always came first” for Rose. He said the officer would run foot chases with kids and talk with them about Wolverine and Clyde.

“He always went the extra mile – I mean extra,” Holt said of Rose. “Simply put, he was special.”

Before the funeral, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said “these are troubling times” for the city, which has seen three officers killed in the line of duty in the last three months. Also, two shootings targeting police occurred within the 24 hours before Rose’s funeral, though no officers were injured.

“I’ve never seen a time like this,” Craig said. “… I want the public to know the dangers that our heroes are facing.”

Holt cited Rose for valour and posthumously promoted him to sergeant during a vigil Tuesday. University President M. Roy Wilson said a $25,000 endowed scholarship was being created in Rose’s name.

Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff Friday on all state buildings.