Thousands say their Final Goodbye to Fallen Officer Thomas Cottrell Jr.

Tom Cottrell Jr. was shot and killed late Sunday night while on duty in Danville. Saturday, officer Cottrell’s funeral was held at the Newark Campus of Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College where Cottrell graduated from in 2002.

Hundreds of emergencies cruisers and cars full of friends and loved ones traveled Route 13 Saturday morning to say goodbye to a fallen police officer. Now while many were brought to tears knowing that a life was cut too short, there was still a sense of pride knowing that he died doing what he loved.

Nearly 1,500 friends, family and brothers in blue came to honor Cottrell. It was a cold and somber day but, you could feel the warmth from the support of the community as the funeral procession proceeded to the cemetery, taking Cottrell to his final resting place.

“It’s important for us to come together as law enforcement officers because, rather you work in a large city or or a small village like officer Cottrell did, it’s important to come together and show your support that we all have each others back and we all understand the sacrifice we put on the streets everyday so it’s important to know that there is people there for his family and the officers that he worked with to give them support,” said Sergeant Clint Eskins of the Newark Police Department.

Cottrell previously worked at the Frazeyburg, Thornville and Utica Police Departments. Many officers from those departments were in attendance. Sergeant Eskins said agencies from as far away as New York, Chicago and Colorado Police Departments came to pay their respects as well.

Flags at the state house as well as public buildings in Licking and Knox County were flying at Half Staff in honor of Cotrell Saturday. Suspect in the killing, Hershel Jones, is being held at the Morrow County Jail on a parole violation. Charges in the case of Cotrell’s death are pending.