A man who served his country and the greater Charlotte–Mecklenburg area will never be seen in uniform again.

What You Need To Know

Fallen CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer served in the North Carolina Army National Guard 

Sgt. Major Robert Shook described him as a quiet, selfless individual

Eyer served 12 years in the N.C. National Guard

Officer Joshua Eyer, with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, is one of four law enforcement members killed Monday while serving a convicted felon a warrant. Before he donned a police badge for a living, he wore Army fatigues. A fellow serviceman who knew him well said the state has lost a hero, patriot and servant to his community.

“One of the things that I think really personifies itself across the Army spectrum is that as non-commissioned officers, we regard all those junior-enlisted soldiers as our kids. Those are our kids that we are teaching and leading. We are there with them in the hard times,” Sergeant Major Robert Shook said.

Shook met Eyer during their time together in the North Carolina National Guard.

Eyer won a special place in the sergeant major’s heart.

“Honestly, I think Josh personified the dedication and self-sacrifice of the citizen soldier,” Shook said.

Over the last few days, time has stood still for Shook. The seasoned U.S. Army man said he can hardly believe the fallen Charlotte-Mecklenburg policeman once under his command is now gone.

“I was consumed with conflicting emotion. At one point, we’re not designed to lay to rest our own children, right? And as a not NCO or officer in the Army, we regard those soldiers that we lead as kind of those are ours,” Shook said.

Records from the Army National Guard State Public Affairs Office show former U.S. Sgt. 1st Class Eyer joined the state Army National Guard in 2011.

During his 12 years of service, he mobilized for Operation Enduring Freedom and again in support of Operation Spartan Shield. 

Shook described him as a bashful soldier who had the right stuff.

“He really grew into a really remarkable, remarkable soldier,” Shook said.

A remarkable soldier intent on becoming a remarkable police officer. As recently as last week, Eyer was awarded Officer of the Month for April by the CMPD before making the ultimate sacrifice.

“It’s been said that the absence of fear is not the presence of courage. Courage is actually the presence of fear and the will to do it anyway. And Josh did that. That was just how he was,” he said.