ST. LOUIS _ Running into a burning building to save lives, chasing down and arresting armed criminals as well as building bridges with the youth in St. Louis' most violent police district are among the deeds that earned Officer Katlyn Alix the title of North Patrol's Officer of the Year this week _ an honor that came months after police say she was killed by a fellow officer.
A crowd of about 100 people, mostly police officers, Mayor Lyda Krewson, Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards and Police Chief John Hayden attended the annual North Patrol Division Officers of the Month and Year Awards Luncheon Wednesday where Alix and about two dozen other officers were honored from the city's Fifth and Sixth districts.
Alix, 24, earned Officer of the Month awards in September and October for the Sixth District.
KTVI's Katherine Hessel emceed the event, and read a summary of Alix's actions that earned her the award. Along with taking down armed suspects, she was "frequently" seen playing basketball with the kids on her beat or letting them see the inside of her patrol car.
"She was the epitome of community policing, a consummate professional who was invaluable to this department," Hessel read.
The crowd rose to their feet at the conclusion of Hessel's presentation as Capt. Perri Johnson accepted the award on her behalf.
Alix was killed Jan. 24 while she was off-duty and at the home of an on-duty officer, Nathaniel Hendren, 29, who frequently partnered with her after she transferred to the city's Second District.
Hendren has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action after police say he and Alix were playing a Russian-roulette-like game with a gun at his home on the city's south side.
