Word has been received of the death of Michigan State Police Trooper Ray Hoffman of the Wayland post. He was 46.

The Yankee Springs/Wayland Fire Departments posted on Facebook today, “It is with deep regret we are told of some sad news. Michigan State Police Trooper Ray Hoffman of the Wayland Post has died.

“Trooper Hoffman was hospitalized for some time. He now is pain free.”

Hoffman had been with the Michigan State Police since 1993. His service has included a four-year stint on the 6th District Hometown Security Team, which focuses on criminal/drug interdiction; a temporary assignment to the Executive Protection Detail, providing security for Governor Rick Snyder and his family; four years assigned as the Post Community Service Officer, presenting safety and awareness to children and faculty of schools, and the community; and focused most of his career with the investigation of child abuse/neglect and sexual assault, as well as forensic interviewing of children.

Hoffman taught investigation of child abuse and neglect, and forensic interviewing of children at the Michigan State Police Training Academy for eight consecutive Trooper Recruit Schools. He also served on the most recent Michigan Forensic Interviewing Protocol Revision Committee.

Hoffman completed his first class on forensic interviewing of children, then was in the first class of “Train the Trainers” for the Michigan Forensic Interviewing of Children Protocol.

He is survived by his loving wife Pam; his children Chase, Arika, and Nick Hoffman; his parents Ray and Cindy Hoffman of Kalkaska, MI; his siblings Glen (Tonya) Hoffman and Rachelle Hoffman; his father and mother in-law Richard and Caroline Arnsman; brother and sister-in-law’s Mike (Lee) Arnsman, Linda (Jim) Stotenbur, Phil (Jessica) Arnsman; and nieces and nephews. Ray was a devoted husband and loving father, son and brother.

The mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, , at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 9408 Wilson Ave., Byron Center, with Msgr. William Duncan, celebrant. A time to visit with Ray’s family will be held on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. at St. Sebastian Catholic Church. The family welcomes memories and messages in their online guest book at www.cookcares.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center, 402 Trowbridge, Allegan, or Trooper Raymond L. Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Fund at Grand Valley State University.