For Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Butterfield, it was in all likelihood a routine traffic stop in a routine shift in a routine day on patrol in downstate Mason County.

Last Monday, however, it ended in tragedy, when the officer was shot by the side of the road. A passerby summoned help several minutes after the shooting.

Butterfield died at Munson Hospital in Traverse City during surgery to save his life. A pair of suspects were arrested and face murder charges.

Trooper Butterfield’s death, Gov. Rick Snyder said, serves as a grim reminder that the men and women who wear the uniform of police officers put their lives on the line every day.

“Our hearts break when a Michigan State Police trooper, or any of our other police officers or firefighters, is killed in the line of duty. Their loss is unquestionably felt by their families as well as the communities they serve and our entire state. We realize the extraordinary difficulty of their jobs and the sacrifices they make for us.

“A tragic event like this shakes us all, but it also bolsters our resolve to make our streets and our neighborhoods safer.”

We join the governor in saluting Trooper Butterfield for his bravery, service and sacrifice.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, friends, and colleagues