Cold Spring Officer Shot, Killed While Conducting Check

[45Badger]

Very sad news.

[gunforhire]

this is terrible. happened in the upstairs apartment of Winner's bar in cold spring. one of my co workers was there last night till about a half hour before this went down

[infidel]

Thoughts are with Officer Tom Decker's family, friends and fellow LEO's.

[sigsauersauce]

This is such a tragic story. So much respect to all of you who serve us so well every day. Thank you, and my prayers go out to the family.

That being said, can some of the LEOs on the board shed some light on something for me? What is the SOP on those types of checks? I know from friends in LE that they hate those calls as well. How well does policy/laws/procedures allow you to protect yourself walking into those situations? I can't help but think there's got to be a way for us to protect our civil servants in allowing them to better protect themselves.

[tman]

What is the SOP on those types of checks?

There's only so much a person can do to prepare for the unexpected. There are SO many variables - each situation is somewhat unique.

[Paul]

What is the SOP on those types of checks?

There's only so much a person can do to prepare for the unexpected. There are SO many variables - each situation is somewhat unique.

That and it's also entirely dependent on the type/size of agency you work for. Sometimes backup can easily be a half hour away (or more) in some areas. I'm not saying that's the case in Cold Springs, I don't know. You just do your best and work with what you got.

[farmerj]

from what I was told, there WAS another officer already on scene with him.

Cold Springs has 8 Full time officers and just as many part-time.

Having spoken with some of the officers in Meeker county, they hated getting calls from my ex-wife. They knew they had to respond to me and they knew I have/had guns. The first time I was put under a protection order, they confiscated ALL my weapons. When I went to pick them up, they told me they were surprised at what I had.

The picture was also painted that I was supposedly a loose cannon as well.

Once the officers started to get a better understanding of the situation, things started to make a difference.

Now put that department into a situation where the parties involved are TOTALLY unknown to the responding officers. I can appreciate them being tense and nervous.

Looking at it from the view point of an MP, I hated domestics. I would have just as soon taken both parties out back and beat them with a willow stick and tell them to grow up. But you can't do that. Our hands were tied as much to protect the rights of both parties involved, yet with Lautenberg and VAWA, someone is going to jail.

Suicide calls, never had to deal with one. How we were trained to handle them, if you find them alive, call the medics. Let the doctors deal with them.

[bstrawse]

That and it's also entirely dependent on the type/size of agency you work for. Sometimes backup can easily be a half hour away (or more) in some areas. I'm not saying that's the case in Cold Springs, I don't know. You just do your best and work with what you got.

In Fountain County, Indiana (population 18,000), where I worked - our deputies were on solo duty most of the time. Backup was a police officer from a city or town, a deputy from a nearby county, or a state trooper if one was available. We often had troopers responding as primary backup to a deputy on a domestic from 20-40 miles away or further. Losing contact with a deputy on an incident was a common stress point with our dispatchers/911 operators.

I'm sure this is similar in rural Minnesota and the many small towns around the state...

[tman]

In Fountain County, Indiana (population 18,000), where I worked - our deputies were on solo duty most of the time. Backup was a police officer from a city or town, a deputy from a nearby county, or a state trooper if one was available. We often had troopers responding as primary backup to a deputy on a domestic from 20-40 miles away or further. Losing contact with a deputy on an incident was a common stress point with our dispatchers/911 operators....

FWIW, this is the situation in which I most often find myself. In the call I mentioned in my original post I was backed up by a city cop from a town 20 miles away from the call. Two other deputies responded. One from 30 miles from where I was at, the other from about 40 or so.

[farmerj]

we had a situation on border security when I was at the Roseau POE. Nearest federal agent was a US Border agent from Warroad. Nearest LEO support was Roseau and Roseau County. 10 miles away.

At 2AM with help 10 minutes away at best, it was a rather hair raising experience. At least by this time, the army had come to its senses and allowed us to be armed for self-defense at least.

[farmerj]

Just saw this on the news listing

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/12/0 ... l-officer/

COLD SPRING, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota authorities are still looking for the gun used to kill a Cold Spring police officer this week.

The Stearns County sheriff’s office put out a request Saturday asking members of the public to keep on the lookout for a discarded weapon. They believe the firearm used was a 20-gauge shotgun.

[fishdude]

The Star Tribune this morning is reporting that the shooter may have a PTC, according to his (former) employer.
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/181690191.html

[farmerj]

dupe article to the one I posted directly above you.

It reads like it's the same AP news article. And the Strib didn't provide that in the byline.

[farmerj]

seems interesting....

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/20 ... inneapolis

FOX 9 News has learned a police raid at a south Minneapolis home known for dealing small amounts of cocaine and marijuana may have yielded an arrest in the killing of a Cold Spring police officer.

The home has been raided by officers before, but police did not find any drugs during the Wednesday night search -- although, that may not be what they were after.

Police sources told FOX 9 News they were looking for a suspect in the killing of Officer Tom Decker, who was known to frequent that home. Those who live there confirmed they do have a relative with a Cold Spring connection, but haven't seen him for months.



Read more: Cold Spring officer shooting investigation leads to Minneapolis - KMSP-TV http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/20 ... z2ENH59jJy

[CraigJS]

Very sad..
Question: where was this "other" officer when this happened? I haven't heard anything about him/her, WHY!