Crime & Safety

Burnsville Police Officers to Serve in Honor Guard for Slain Cold Spring Officer Tom Decker

The Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association has tapped members of the Burnsville Police Department to provide a send off at Cold Spring Officer Tom Decker's funeral on Wednesday.

Burnsville will be well represented at the funeral of Tom Decker, the Cold Spring police officer who was recently gunned down during a welfare check

Kevin Torgerson, commander of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA), said members of the Burnsville Police Department will be a part of the honor guard provides a firing party only in the case of a line-of-duty funeral. LEMA's Honor Guard will also have members from Roseville, Lakeville, Minnetonka, Edina, Fridley, three county sheriff's offices (Washington, Hennepin, Ramsey) and the Three Rivers Park District.

Decker's funeral is set for Wednesday, when up to 2,000 officers from around the country could attend, according to a story by the St. Cloud Times. After the service, two processions will take place through the community: the first will include officers from outside Stearns County, the second will include Decker’s casket, family and friends, and all Stearns County officers, reported the Times.

Find out what's happening in Burnsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The suspect, 34-year-old Ryan Michael Larson, was released from jail on Tuesday without being charged.

Burnsville has not yet lost an officer in the line of duty, but several other south metro cities have.

Find out what's happening in Burnsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.