The family of an Ohio police officer who was shot in killed earlier this week is speaking out about the kind of man he was.
“He was always there when I needed him, he picked me up when I was down, even though he wasn't my real father, he acted like the real father figure,” Elliott’s son, Trevor said.
Officer Thomas Cottrell's body was found late Sunday behind the village municipal building in Danville, about 60 miles northeast of Columbus.
Herschel Ray Jones III was arrested in connection with the killing following a short foot chase after he was spotted running from a home in Danville.
Cottrell's girlfriend, Tanya, told WBNS in Columbus she got a strange feeling in her stomach Monday morning and tried calling Cottrell several times, but he never answered.
"I honestly shut him down every time he said this could be the last time you see me," she said. "We're in Danville. This stuff doesn't happen in Danville."
WATCH more from the interview in the video player above.
The Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home website says services for the 34-year-old officer will be 11 a.m. Saturday on the Newark campus of Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College. Plans also call for a color guard, bagpipes and a police escort from the funeral home to the campus.
Calling hours are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home in Newark. Authorities say Jones is still in custody and expected to be charged.
