COLD SPRING, Minn. (WCCO/AP) – A Cold Spring police officer was shot and killed late Thursday when authorities say he was ambushed while performing a welfare check.
The officer killed was identified by the Cold Spring Police Department as Tom Decker. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says he was killed around 11 p.m. behind an apartment situated above Winner’s Bar on Main Street. Decker was called to the scene after a family reported that one of their loved ones may have been suicidal.
“Officer Decker left his squad car, and a very shot time later was confronted by an armed individual, shot twice and died,” said Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner.
On Friday, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office said a preliminary autopsy showed Decker died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The suspect, 34-year-old Ryan Larson, was arrested and booked into the Stearns County Jail on murder charges early Friday morning.
He is a college student, but the school in which he is enrolled has yet to be verified.
Stearns County Chief Deputy Bruce Bechtold says Larson was believed to be in the residence that Decker was called to check.
Ryan Larson (credit: Stearns County Jail)
The BCA and the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office are conducting an on-going investigation into the shooting. So far, they say many interviews have been conducted and that several guns have been found. Moreover, a search for other potential witnesses and weapons related to the shooting continues.
Authorities said that Decker, 31, leaves behind a wife and four children. He was thought of as the police department “jokester.”
“He was a chief’s dream,” Cold Springs Police Chief Phil Jones said, adding that he had earned six letters of appreciation since he joined the in March of 2006.
Highest Respect
Decker’s body was accompanied by a police escort to and from St. Paul on Friday for the preliminary autopsy. About 30 cars, with lights flashing, were alongside on the road back to Cold Spring.
Jones says Decker’s body will be guarded 24 hours a day until his funeral, which has not been scheduled yet.
The last Stearns County officer killed in the line of duty was St. Joseph officer Brian Klinefelter, who was shot in 1996 while attempting to arrest three robbery suspects.
‘Life Of The Party’
Officer Decker’s younger brother says the slain officer was bright and animated, someone who loved to travel and be outdoors.
Twenty-seven-year-old Joe Decker of Cold Spring says Tom Decker was shy as a youngster but “the life of the party” as an adult.
Joe Decker said Friday his brother enjoyed fishing and going pheasant hunting. He also says his family assumed Tom Decker would be a doctor or pharmacist because he had so much medical knowledge, and they were surprised when he decided to become a police officer.
Joe Decker says the family is still in shock.
Family, Town Mourn Fallen Son
On a dairy farm south of town, Decker’s family is grieving over the loss of their son and brother.
“He just loved being a police officer,” said John Decker, the officer’s father. “I mean he had a night shift…the only reason he had that was to see his kids during the day.”
Tom Decker and his four children were just at the farm for Thanksgiving. His mother, Rosella, says while Decker was a cop, he still loved the farm and even called her the night he was killed.
“He called…and said, ‘How’s it going mom? I’ll stop if I get a chance,’” Rosella Decker said.
She said her son called everyday, especially if he wasn’t able to make it to the farm in person.
It was after midnight when the family received the horrible news. By daybreak, the entire town was grieving with them.
“It was really a dangerous job, but that’s what he wanted to do,” Rosella Decker said. “He wanted to help people.”
How You Can Help
Several funds have been set up for those who are interested in helping Officer Decker’s family.
Tom Decker Memorial Fund
State Bank of Cold Spring
PO Box 415 Cold Spring, MN 56320
Tom Decker Memorial Fund
1st National Bank of Cold Spring
PO Box 416 Cold Spring, MN 56320
Tom Decker Memorial Fund
Central Minnesota Credit Union
202 Red River Avenue So. Cold Spring, MN 56320
Tom Decker Memorial Fund
Wells Fargo
All locations
Gov. Mark Dayton released a statement on Friday regarding Decker’s death:
“Cold Springs (sic) Police Officer Tom Decker was senselessly murdered last night while acting in the line of duty. On behalf of the people of Minnesota, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and to the Cold Springs Police Department for their tragic loss of an outstanding officer, father, and friend. Officer Decker died while protecting his fellow citizens. For his heroism, we will be forever grateful.”
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
