By Jay Warren, WCPO News (Ohio)
More than a thousand people gathered at Lawrenceburg High School to say their goodbyes to a hometown hero.
Detective Thomas Cochran of the Lawrenceburg Police Department was killed last Tuesday when, while responding to a call, his car hit a patch of ice, left the road and smashed into a concrete barrier - ejecting him from the car.
Detective Cochran was on his way to assist a fellow officer who needed help dealing with a suicidal person.
The community turned out in droves at the visitation Sunday to say thank you.
There seemed to be no end to the line of people at Lawrenceburg High School as more than 1,000 showed up to offer their support to his family.
“Tom is just totally dedicated to his family and to the community whenever you needed him he was there,” said Peggy Lutz, Cochran’s neighbor.
And now the community is there for his family.
Cochran’s wife Jonee and their five kids collected thousands of hugs on Sunday as well.
“It tears you up,” said Lutz, “just tears you up.”
Detective Cochran and his son Josh played paintball avidly and their team brought those memories with them on Sunday.
“He was like a father to us,” said Brandon Decker, a paintball team member.
They described him as an excellent coach and teammate.
“He’d always tell you to keep your head up. He’d always say a guy was coming to shoot you, ‘Turn around!’ You turn around and there he was,” said Decker, “and Cochran already got him for you.”
He also had a love for very sweet coffee.
“One time we were working on a special detail and I went to one of the local restaurants to grab a carry out with coffee and he said, ‘Don’t forget to get extra sugar!’ He loaded his coffee with sugar,” said Chief Gene Hunefeld, of the Lawrenceburg police department.
“Well, I only brought eight packs instead of 10,” said Hunefeld.
“Boy, that was an issue,” said Hunefeld, “more sugar than coffee - he liked a little coffee with his sugar.”
And when it came to his career, those who knew him say he lived for police work.
“He was with us the Lawrenceburg Police Department for the last 10 years,” said Peggy Fathman, his friend. “During that time we had a rash of bank robberies and because Tom was there - and Tom was on the job - all those bank robberies were solved and ended in conviction.”
The funeral for Sergeant Tom Cochran will be held at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon at the Lawrenceburg High School. The burial will be at Riverview Cemetery.
Both ceremonies will be open to the public.
A trust fund has also been set up for the Cochran children at United Community Bank, located at 92 Walnut Street in Lawrenceburg.
The fund will be used to pay for his children’s college education.