DigElogROCORI

#ColdSpring - Officer shot and killed story unfolds on Twitter

Police officer Tom Decker is ambushed and killed, suspect Ryan Larson is taken into custody the night of Thursday, November 29, 2012.

 
 Cold Spring police officer Tom Decker (Cold Spring Police Dept)

Shooting suspect Ryan Larson (Stearn's County Sheriff)

 

Here is the story as it unfolded on Twitter #coldspring

*****  Most Recent Post to Oldest Post
10:40 AM today going back to 12:40 AM last night Nov. 30, 2012

 

Drake Malaske ‏@DrakeSubway
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for another" #OfficerDown #MN #Coldspring #RIP

Expand
7m  UTVS News ‏@utvsnews
Cold Spring police officer shot and killed last night in the line of duty. http://utvsnewsnow.com/?p=18671
Followed by St. Cloud Times and 2 others
Expand
8m  Eau Claire PD ‏@EauClairePD
@EauClairePD extends our condolences to the #ColdSpring PD & the family of Ofc Tom Decker. We must always remember our local heroes.

Expand
9m  Brainerd Dispatch ‏@brd_dispatch
BRAINERD MN-CRIME: Cold Spring police officer killed during routine check: COLD SPRING, Minn. (AP) — A police of... http://bit.ly/11qBPui
Followed by KSTP and 1 other
Expand
11m  Governor Mark Dayton ‏@GovMarkDayton
I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Police Officer Tom Decker & to the Cold Spring PD for their tragic loss http://ow.ly/fIukl

Expand
13m  Vikings Territory ‏@vikingterritory
Just read about the Cold Spring tragedy. So sad and senseless. If the Eric Decker rumors are true or not, we send our prayers to them all.

Expand
14m  Erica Acquard ‏@Erica_Acquard
Thoughts and prayers go out to Cold Spring

Expand
14m  Hannah ‏@hannahneuman
thoughts and prayers go out to the community of cold spring and especially the family and friends of Officer Decker #restinpeace

Expand
15m  Tom Weber ‏@webertom1
Police officer killing in Cold Spring, MN described as an ambush: http://mprne.ws/fIkx3

Expand
16m  minnesotasport ‏@minnesotasport
#nfl Cold Spring Police Chief: 'We lost a brother': Cold Spring Police Chief, Phil Jones, talks about ... http://bit.ly/11qzsb1  #football

Expand
16m  Nate Anderson ‏@natefanderson
Using all technology possible up here in #ColdSpring. Updates coming at 11am on kare11. @ Cold Spring http://instagr.am/p/SqSIDQsBLW/
Followed by Pioneer Press and 1 other
View photo
16m  Tom Lyden ‏@tlyden
Cold Spring Police Officer Tom Decker, 31, killed in line of duty. Husband, father of 4. http://yfrog.com/h3vpwciyj
Followed by Tom Weber
View photo
17m  chriscortte ‏@chriscortte
All of the police in our area are grieving deeply today at the loss of our friend in Cold Spring. Pray for your officers and ours today!

Expand
18m  Sammi Johnson ‏@sammi_johnsonn
RIP Tom Decker. Thank you for being a true hero in our community, God bless your family. Prayers and love go out to Cold Spring.
Followed by Dan Clark
Expand
18m  Bob Collins ‏@NewsCut
I'm confused. KARE 11 says the cop shot in Cold Spring is not Eric Decker's brother. OK. Fine. Who said he was?

Expand
19m  The Usual Suspects ‏@ppUsualSuspects
RT @PioneerPress: UPDATE: Cold Spring police officer killed last night was wearing a protective vest when he was shot: http://ow.ly/fIrDe
Followed by Pioneer Press and 1 other
Expand
20m  Sarah Saeger ‏@sarah5pmfox9
31-year-old Officer Tom Decker: described as someone everybody liked, and the "jokester" of the Cold Spring dept. pic.twitter.com/rt4F6JOR
Followed by Minnesota DOR and 1 other
View photo
21m  rchambers ‏@jesuswasntfat
Feeling for those in #ColdSpring. Never forgotten. Thoughts and prayers with the family, friends and department.

Expand
22m  Mellaney Peper ‏@MellaneyPeper
Cold Spring Police Chief Phil Jones: " We lost an officer, the community lost a citizen." http://goo.gl/1xB3I

Expand
25m  John Croman ‏@JohnCroman
Governor Dayton's statement on the killing of Officer Tom Decker in Cold Spring. pic.twitter.com/pzWnGa94

View photo
25m  Mike Binkley ‏@binkofamerica
Sympathies to the people of Cold Spring and their police force. Huge loss.... http://fb.me/1N6uadiM5
Followed by WCCO Breaking News
View summary
25m  kyle nagorski ‏@PurplePrideMN
Prayers go out the police officers Family in cold spring. :(

Expand
25m  Nate Hewitt ‏@baconstrips2
I hope everyone is alright up in Cold Spring!

Expand
25m  Hunter Schleper ‏@HunterSchleper
Cold spring, Minnesota is the Hood! Be careful entering small farm towns! #Rednecks #Minnesota RIP Tom Decker!! @EricDecker87 #bronconation

Expand
26m  Caleb Hennek ‏@calebhennek
A cop was shot in cold spring responding to a potential suicide call? What douchebag ambushes a cop? #Lowlife

Expand
26m  Christopher A. ‏@ChristopherLan4
Thoughts and prayers to the Cold Spring, MN area for the officer that was shot and killed this morning. RIP brother, your watch is over.

Expand
26m  DigElog ROCORI ‏@DigElogROCORI
Police officer Decker, a hometown boy, "was a Chief's dream" stated Cold Spring Chief of Police, Phil Jones #coldspring

Expand
27m  Alyssa Hurrle ‏@alyssa_hurrle
Prayers go out to Cold Spring and the Decker Family. #staystrong #RIPOfficerDecker

Expand
27m  Ellyn Diane ‏@EllynDiane
My heart is with the Cold Spring community and Tom's family and wife Alicia #prayers #RIP
Followed by Dan Clark
Expand
27m  Public Safety ‏@PublicSafetyUST
Thoughs & Prayers to family & friends of Cold Spring PD Officer Tom Decker, killed in the line of duty Thursday. http://bit.ly/X8arSC

Expand
28m  Mark Sommerhauser ‏@msommerhauser
@GovMarkDayton has issued statement extending "deepest sympathies" to family of slain #coldspring officer Tom Decker & to Cold Spring PD
Followed by Minnesota DOR and 2 others
Expand
28m  Emergency Traffic ‏@Police_Dispatch
Cold Spring police officer killed on duty identified - KARE http://emrgncy.net/QSDgks  #PoliceNews

Expand
1h  Michele Bachmann ‏@MicheleBachmann
My heart goes out to the family of slain police officer Tom Decker. Please pray for healing for the #ColdSpring community. #MN
Top Tweet
Expand
30m  Pioneer Press ‏@PioneerPress
UPDATE: Cold Spring police officer killed last night was wearing a protective vest when he was shot: http://ow.ly/fIrDe

Expand
50m  Tim Post - MPR News ‏@TimPostMPR
RT @sctimes: #coldspring shooting suspect is a 2nd year machine tool student at St. Cloud Technical & Community College, school confirms.

Expand
55m  Tim Post - MPR News ‏@TimPostMPR
RT @webertom1: Reporter @timnelson_mpr will join us at 10:06 on @DailyCircuit for latest on killing of Cold Spring, MN police officer Tom...

Expand
1h  Pioneer Press ‏@PioneerPress
UPDATE: 31-year-old Cold Spring police officer ambushed by allegedly suicidal man, sheriff says: http://ow.ly/fImjE

Expand
1h  St. Cloud Times ‏@sctimes
Latest on the #coldspring officer shooting with updated photos. http://on.sctimes.com/Uwkw9o

Expand
1h  KSTP ‏@KSTP
We've posted raw video of the news conference on the fatal shooting of Cold Spring Officer Thomas Decker http://kstp.mn/665n8

Expand
1h  ryanmathre ‏@ryanmathre
Very sad to hear about the officer shooting and death in my hometown of Cold Spring. Town seems to be snakebit. http://tinyurl.com/cqwteln

Expand
1h  Tom Weber ‏@webertom1
Latest on killing of Cold Spring officer Tom Decker here: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/30/news/police-officer-killed-in-cold-spring/ …

Expand
1h  KARE 11 ‏@kare11
MT @sctimes: #ColdSpring Phil Jones calls Tom Decker a chief's dream who had 6 letters of accommodation. He was married with 4 children.

Expand
1h  Tom Weber ‏@webertom1
NEW: Authorities say Tom Decker was Cold Spring, MN police officer who was killed last night. Stay w/ @MPRnews & @DailyCircuit for latest.

Expand
1h  WCCO Breaking News ‏@WCCOBreaking
Police, sheriff identify officer killed as Tom Decker. Also identify suspect as Ryan Larson. Mug shot here: http://cbsloc.al/QuLQo3

View summary
1h  St. Cloud Times ‏@sctimes
Cold Spring Phil Jones calls Tom Decker a chief's dream who had 6 letters of accommodation. He was married with 4 children. #coldspring

Cold Spring police officer shot and killed : Tom Decker

TWITTER UPDATE:
8:38 AM  Friday, November 30, 2012

Stearns Sheriff confirms Tom Decker as officer and Ryan Michael Larson, 34, Cold Spring as the suspect.

 

TWITTER UPDATE:
8:30 AM  Friday, November 30, 2012

KNSI Radio ‏@KNSI Thirty four year-old Ryan Michael Larson of Cold Spring booked into Stearns Co. Jail on felony murder charge at 12:15 this morning.

 

TWITTER UPDATE:
8:00 AM  Friday, November 30, 2012

Father Cletus Connors confirms policeman killed was Tom Decker, originally from St. Nicholas. He lived in Cold Spring.

Officer Tom Decker
Officer Decker is a 2002 graduate of Alexandria Technical College receiving an A.A.S. Degree in Law Enforcement.  Officer Decker began serving the City of Isle, in Mille Lacs County in October of 2002.  In April of 2003, Officer Decker began serving the City of Watkins in Meeker County in the same capacity.  In September of 2004, Officer Decker started with the Kimball Police Department and also served as a School Resource Officer for the Kimball School District.  In March of 2006,  Officer Decker began serving the cities of Cold Spring and Richmond. Officer Decker is a native of the Cold Spring area and is a ROCORI graduate.

Friday, November 30, 2012
Cold Spring, Minnesota  USA
St. Cloud Times Story  :  St. Cloud, MN

COLD SPRING — A Cold Spring police officer was shot and killed late Thursday when he was trying to do a welfare check, Stearns County Chief Deputy Bruce Bechtold said during an early morning news conference today.The shooting and the subsequent hunt for the suspect shut down much of downtown Cold Spring late Thursday. The suspect was arrested, but his identity was not released by authorities at this time.

 

Friday, November 30, 2012
Cold Spring, Minnesota  USA
Star Tribune Story  :  Minneapolis, MN

A Cold Spring police officer was fatally shot late Thursday when he was trying to do a routine welfare check at an apartment near a Main Street bar, Stearns County authorities said Friday morning.

A suspect was arrested after the shooting and remains in custody, Sgt. Ken Friday of the Stearns County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators didn't release the name of the dead officer or the suspect

Cold Spring Police Department staff makeup

Chief Phil Jones
Chief Jones is an 8-year veteran of the armed forces, serving 3 years active duty in the United States Marines and 5 years in the National Guard. He is a honor graduate from Mankato State University with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Chief Jones holds a minor in political science with a concentration in public administration. Additional education includes but is not limited to the completion of a 3 months Police Skills Training Course from Hibbing Community College. Chief Jones has over 23 years of Law Enforcement experience and has served the Cold Spring Police Department since January 1990 and during 2004 Chief Jones received the Medal of Honor Award from the Minnesota Police Chiefs Association for his actions during 2003.

phil.jones@ci.coldspringpd.mn.us


K-9/Sergeant Chris Boucher
Sergeant Boucher has been with the Cold Spring Police Department since 1993; he worked for the Albany Police Department from 1992-1994 before accepting a full time position with Cold Spring.  He graduated from Alexandria Technical College with an A.A.S. degree in law enforcement and served with the Stearns County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol while attending college.  Sergeant Boucher has received CSPD’s highest award, Police Special Commendation, for his actions during a traffic stop in 1996.  Sergeant Boucher has also received a letter of commendation for teaching four years of D.A.R.E at the Rocori Schools.  Sergeant Boucher is the current K-9 handler of “Abby” for more on Officer Boucher and Abby visit the K9 Abby website.

chris.boucher@ci.coldpspringpd.mn.us

 Officer Eric Boucher     
Officer Boucher was hired by the Cold Spring Police Department in December of 2004.  Eric previously worked for Richmond Police Department and Meeker County Sheriff's Department.  Officer Boucher graduated from Central Lakes College in Brainerd in 2004 with an A.S. in Law Enforcement.

eric.boucher@ci.coldspringpd.mn.us

School Resource/Patrol Officer Ruben Zayas
Officer Zayas has been with the Cold Spring Police Department since October of 2004, when he started as a part-time officer.  He then worked for the City of Belgrade where he became Acting Chief and ran the day to day operations in the absence of Chief Osvaldo Carbajal. Officer Zayas then became a full-time officer for the City of Cold Spring in 2005. Ruben is a 2004 graduate of Alexandria Technical College where he obtained an A.A.S. Degree in Law Enforcement. Ruben has the ability of speaking Spanish fluently and frequently uses his speaking skills to work with our growing hispanic community. He also assists other departments with translations when needed. In January 2009 Officer Zayas received the Life Saving Award along with fellow officers Sgt. Boucher and Officer Jason Blum.  In 2011 Officer Zayas was assigned to the School Resource Officer position at the Rocori School District.

sro@rocori.k12.mn.us            

Officer Tom Decker
Officer Decker is a 2002 graduate of Alexandria Technical College receiving an A.A.S. Degree in Law Enforcement.  Officer Decker began serving the City of Isle, in Mille Lacs County in October of 2002.  In April of 2003, Officer Decker began serving the City of Watkins in Meeker County in the same capacity.  In September of 2004, Officer Decker started with the Kimball Police Department and also served as a School Resource Officer for the Kimball School District.  In March of 2006,  Officer Decker began serving the cities of Cold Spring and Richmond. Officer Decker is a native of the Cold Spring area and is a ROCORI graduate.

tom.decker@ci.coldspringpd.mn.us

Officer Jason Blum
Officer Blum is a 2003 graduate of St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement.  Officer Blum began his career working part-time for the City of Melrose before also accepting a part-time position with the City of Cold Spring in September of 2006.  In October of 2007, Officer Blum accepted a full-time position with the Cold Spring-Richmond Police Department.  Officer Blum is a Rocori graduate and now serves the community he grew up in. In January of 2009 Officer Blum received a Life Saving Award along with fellow Officer Ruben Zayas and Sergeant Chris Boucher. 

jason.blum@ci.coldspringpd.mn.us


Officer Craig Kritzeck
Officer Kritzeck started with the Cold Spring-Richmond Police Department in June of 2010. Officer Kritzeck is a 2002 graduate of Alexandria Technical College with an A.A.S. degree in Law Enforcement. Officer Kritzeck began his career with the Sherburne County Sheriff's Department in November of 2002 as a Court Security/Transport Deputy. In November of 2004, Officer Kritzeck was hired as the Chief of Police for the City of Nevis in Hubbard County. Officer Kritzeck served as the Chief until the end of December 2007. In December 2006, Officer Kritzeck began working for the Park Rapids Police Department in Hubbard County as a part-time Police Officer. In January 2008, Officer Kritzeck was hired full-time with the Park Rapids Police Department and served until June of 2010.

craig.kritzeck@ci.coldspringpd.mn.us

 

Part time Officers
Brian Peterka
Christi Hoffman
Jeffrey Eggert
Greg Reiter
Richard Etshokin
Jamie Revermann
Dean Baumgarten
Ashley Capes
Joseph Schmitz

 
Administrative Assistant
 
Angie Haag

Motorcycle Accident 8.9.2012: Waite Park Traffic Fatality : Richmond Resident

Waite Park Police report Richmond man involved in motorcycle accident and death.

Paul Hiltner, age 52, was thrown from his motorcyle into the path of a semi tractor/trailer today in Waite Park and died at the scene of the accident.