Memorial for slain officer Collin Rose placed in Richland's village square

By Madison Bennett | MLive

RICHLAND, MI - A memorial marker now sits beneath a tree newly planted in the Richland's village square.

It reads: This memorial tree and monument are in loving memory of Sgt. Collin Rose who gave his life in the line of duty, protecting others. End of watch November 23, 2016

"You know we've got a storm here, but it's a beautiful day," Jeff Mattioli, chief of the Richland Police Department, said Thursday as snow fell at a tree-planting ceremony in honor of Collin Rose, a Gull Lake High School graduate and former Richland police officer who was shot and killed in Detroit.

"I want to thank you very much for coming today. I know this is hard, it's hard for everyone, but not as hard as it is for you," Mattioli said to Rose's family.

The tree, a Kousa Dogwood, was donated by Gull Lake Landscape Co. and according to owner Bruce Snyder it is one of a kind. "Collin was vibrant, full of life, full of joy, so we chose a tree that would flower," Snyder said.

After the tree was in planted in Richland Square Park, family members and others placed blue ribbons on it.

Rose, 29, was shot in the head while on patrol near the Wayne State campus Nov. 22 and he died the following day. He had called dispatch for backup after stopping a man on a bicycle in an area experiencing a rise in thefts from cars.

Mattioli at Thursday's ceremomy addressed the news the day before that murder charges against a suspect in Rose's killing were dropped.

"I know the news yesterday was discouraging, but I have faith they will find the garbage that did this and there's a special place in hell for him," Mattioli said.

Rose, who had been with the Wayne State Police Department for five years, where he was a canine officer and sergeant, was an officer in Richland before going to Detroit.

The Richland Police Department received an outpouring of support from the community when it sought donations to pay for the memorial. Donations that weren't used were put toward a scholarship fund in Rose's name created by Gull Lake Community Schools, from which he graduated in 2006.

"It (Thursday) was one of the first times I've seen Mrs. Rose smile in a long time," Mattioli said. "I hope this was a beautiful moment for them."

Rose, the son of Randy and Karen Rose, was engaged to be married to Nicole Salgot.

This post originally appeared Dec. 8, 2016 on MLive.com.