Law Enforcement, Family to Honor Fallen Cold Spring Officer

Law enforcement from across the country will be in Minnesota this week honoring Cold Spring Police Officer Tom Decker. Decker was killed in the line of duty last Thursday night.

Thirty-one-year-old Decker was responding to reports of a suicidal man when police say he was ambushed by 34-year-old Ryan Michael Larson.

On Sunday, representatives from the Department of Public Safety and the Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA) were making arrangements at Saint John's University in Collegeville.

"A large number of folks there that are our first and foremost priority, that they see Tom get the ultimate honors that he deserves," said Kevin Torgerson, Commander of the Honor Guard for LEMA.

Authorities are expecting about two thousand law enforcement officers to honor Decker during a funeral and miles-long procession on Wednesday.

"We've all been there. Why Tom, why not me, why not someone else? That's an inward struggle I think every officer has," Torgerson said.

Decker had one set of brothers in uniform and another set of brothers at home. He was a six-year veteran of the Cold Spring Police Department. He also was one of eight children; six of them were boys.

"Just the smile on his face when he'd see you because he always treated you like you were special. That's probably what I'll miss the most," said Eddie Decker, Tom Decker's brother.

"There was perfect trust between them all, they trusted each other like you wouldn't believe," said Tom Decker's brother, Joe, about his brother's relationship with fellow officers.

Investigators are still searching for the 20-gauge shotgun they believe was used in the shooting.

Visitation: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, St. Boniface Catholic Church, 501 Main Street in Cold Spring.

Funeral: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, Saint John's Abbey and University Church, 31802 County Road 159 in Collegeville.   

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