NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH)–Turnout for the funeral services of murdered Danville police officer Tom Cottrell is anticipated to be more than 2,000 people, and the police academy where he graduated volunteered their campus for his memorial service.

First Cottrell’s visitation will begin on Friday from 2-4 p.m. and from 6 -8 p.m. at the Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home in Newark. A large contingent of fellow officers, family and friends will mourn and pay honor to a brother, father, husband and son.

“Every family you meet with you develop that special relationship, so it can get pretty emotional even for us,” said funeral director and owner Jim Brucker.

Normally the funeral home guides the services, but Brucker said in this case the police will have the lead.

“It is just nice to see three or four counties get together and work together for an honorable burial,” he said.

The plan calls for a color guard, bagpipes and a police escort from the funeral home on Saturday morning to Newark’s Campus of Central Ohio Technical College and The Ohio State University at Newark, where Cottrell graduated in December of 2002.

“We all feel that we feel that loss, and in this case it is particularly sad,” said Bonnie Coe, COTC President.

The memorial service will be held in the gymnasium with overflow shown on a video feed in the ballroom. Coe said the tight-knit college trains first responders, like police, fire and EMS.

“We have lost one of their own,” Coe said. “This is a sad day for the Central Ohio community, it is a sad day for the state and for the nation, so our hearts are with the family.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in the name of Tom Cottrell Jr. for a COTC Scholarship Fund for those involved in law enforcement is being established in care of First Knox Bank.