Cold Spring officer was ATCC graduate

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Details are still being discovered in the death of Cold Spring police officer Tom Decker. Decker, an Alexandria Technical and Community College graduate, was 31 when he was shot after responding to a call on Thursday, November 29. Investigators called his death an ambush-style killing.

Ryan Michael Larson, 34, of Cold Spring was identified as the alleged shooter and criminal charges were pending as of Tuesday morning.

Officials are still looking for the 20-gauge shotgun believed to have been used in the shooting.

Decker and his partner were dispatched to Larson’s residence above Winners Bar in Cold Spring to follow up on a suicidal person call. Larson’s family called police for a welfare check because they were concerned for his safety.

Officers had visited the residence approximately 45 minutes earlier but were unable to make contact with Larson.

According to investigators, it’s believed that when Decker arrived on scene the second time, he was confronted by Larson and shot. Decker was wearing a protective vest at the time of his death.

Larson was arrested just after midnight Friday morning.

Decker received his associate’s degree in law enforcement from ATCC in 2002. He had worked for the Cold Spring Police Department since 2006. Decker leaves behind his wife, Alicia, and four children from a previous marriage.

Visitation for Decker was held on Tuesday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring with an 11 a.m. funeral following on Wednesday at Saint John’s Abbey and University Church in Collegeville.

ATCC law enforcement coordinator Scott Berger said current law enforcement students would be bused to the funeral.

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