Holly MatkinSunset Hills, MO – Sunset Hills Police Department (SHPD) Officer Christy Meier died unexpectedly on Nov. 12 after returning home from her night shift, according to her department.
Officer Meier, 47, passed away in her sleep, KSDK reported.
Her exact cause of death was not released.
“It was a complete shock,” Sunset Hills Police Chief Stephen Dodge told KTVI.
Officer Meier worked a 12-hour night shift and clocked out like normal at approximately 7 a.m. on Nov. 12.
“She went home, and saw her husband, and went to sleep,” Chief Dodge said. “(She) went to bed, and he went to work, and when he came home, he found her.”
“Christy has always been very healthy, vibrant, and to get that phone call is…It’s one of your worst nightmares as a chief to find out one of your officers has passed away,” he told KTVI. “She’s cruising along, healthy as can be, and then next thing you know, out of nowhere.”
Officer Meier’s law enforcement career began in 2007, when she was hired as a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy, the SHPD said in a Facebook post on Nov. 13.
She joined the SHPD in 2013.
“She was a very highly-decorated police officer, loved the community she served, very outgoing,” Chief Dodge told KTVI. “She was the type of officer who didn’t just drive through your neighborhood but stopped to say hi and strike up a conversation with you.”
“As an agency we are grieving,” the police department said. “Our most heartfelt condolences and sorrow to her loving family…”
Officer Meier leaves behind her husband, Steven, her children, Katelynn and Kyle, and her granddaughter, Myla, according to her obituary.
She is also survived by her siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
“During Christy Meier’s seven years of service to our community, we received numerous compliments from citizens for her compassion and caring attitude,” Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak told KTVI. “More important than her work, however, was that she shared her love with her children, family, and friends.”
A fundraising page established to help her family in the wake of their loss has raised more than $4,000 so far.
Officer Meier will be laid to rest on Nov. 19.
Sending our heartfelt condolences to the blue and blood family of Officer Christy Meier of the Sunset Hills Missouri Police Department.
Rest now sister, we've got the watch from here. 💙🖤
Extending a helping had to the department and her family. #SunsetHillsPoliceDept pic.twitter.com/b5mr409tvZ
— Rebound911 (@rebound911stl) November 14, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Sunset Hills Police Department Officer Christy Meier, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
