It's all twenty-six year old James Bonneau ever wanted to do -- become a police officer.

"From four years old on, he had that calling," Marc Bonneau said.

So it was a blessing, his dad said, when Jim landed his dream job somewhat near the family home in Canton.

"He wanted to stay here and we hoped he could,"Marc said. "When this came through, it was nice that he was close enough and we could still see him."

Marc admits he knew the line of work his son chose was inherently dangerous.

"He didn't mind Jackson, I was leery on it, but that's just the profession, and that's just a dad talking too," he said.

But he said you can never plan for the call the family received Tuesday. Jim was responding to a disturbance in Jackson, when a suspect opened fire on two police officers.

Jim was shot and killed.

"These things, you hope they never come," Bonneau said.

The outpouring of support from family, friends and the police community came shortly thereafter Marc said -- attention he said Jim would shy away from.

"He was very sensitive, he had a big heart, he was laid back and good natured," Bonneau said.

Jim Bonneau gave his life for a job he loved, which is something his dad said is giving the family comfort.

"I mean we're grateful we got him for these years, sure we wanted him forever, but at least we got the memories to fall back on," Marc said.

Jim Bonneau was not married, but his dad told us he had a serious girlfriend and they were planning to eventually get engaged.