GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) -- For the second time in less than a year, the Greensboro community is mourning the loss of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Flowers, candles and handwritten notes have been placed outside the Greensboro Police Department in honor of Officer Michael Horan, a seven-year veteran of the department who was killed just days before Christmas. His patrol car, now covered in tributes, has become a symbol of the grief and love felt throughout the community. “This has got to end,” said Nicky Smith, who visited the memorial on Christmas Eve. “This is as sad as it can get.” Community members, local business owners and law enforcement officers from nearby agencies have come to pay their respects. Some left flowers and notes, while others dropped off food and supplies for officers working at the station. Tracy Fulk, president of Lodge 79 of the Fraternal Order of Police, said she met Horan earlier this year during a training session. She described him as having a large personality and a deep passion for his work. “He kind of owned the room when he came in. He was happy ... He talked about his service in the Coast Guard and the things he accomplished there, and then he talked about everything he was doing here in the Greensboro Police Department," Fulk said. Horan’s death has taken an emotional toll not only on his colleagues but also on their families. Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said she was in a meeting with the city manager when they learned the news. She described how he stepped out to take a call and returned visibly shaken. “I’m sure that every family last night thought, ‘Is this worth it? Will my spouse come home? Will my dad come home? Or my mother? My son or daughter?' I’m sure every family was reevaluating their life decisions,” Vaughan said. The loss of Horan is a painful reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face daily. It comes less than a year after the death of Sgt. Dale Nix, another Greensboro officer who was killed in the line of duty last December. Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers visited the memorial Wednesday and reflected on the emotional impact of Horan’s death. “It really has taken me to a different level,” Rogers said. “Thinking about him experiencing the last seconds of his life while his children and wife are left behind.” In response to the tragedy, the City of Greensboro is offering grief counseling and peer support to officers and their families. Vaughan said the city is also planning a proper celebration of Horan’s life and service. “This isn’t just about mourning the loss of an officer,” Vaughan said. “It’s about supporting the people who protect us every day and reminding them that their work matters.” A fundraiser has been set up.