Thousands Expected at Officer Decker’s Funeral

As many as 3,000 people are expected to attend the funeral for Cold Spring police officer Tom Decker at 11 this morning. Officials say between 1,500 and 2,000 officers from across the country could be at St. John's Abbey and University Church in Collegeville. Two overflow areas - Pellegrine Auditorium and the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater - will have the service on large video screens.

Due to the limited space, members of the public are encouraged to pay their respects along the procession route. There will be two separate processions immediately following the service. The first will include all law enforcement and first responders. The other procession will include Officer Decker's casket, his family and friends, and all Stearns County law enforcement. Both processions will begin at the church and end at the St. Nicholas Cemetery. The procession featuring Decker's casket will travel through the communities where he worked and lived.

A horse-drawn carriage will transport his casket into the St. Nicholas Cemetery.