‘Made an incredible impact’: Fallen CMPD Officer of the Month Joshua Eyer served with NC National Guard for 12 years
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The North Carolina National Guard is sharing additional information on fallen CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer who served with them for 12 years.
CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer died in the line of duty Monday when a suspect, identified as Terry Hughes Jr., 39, opened fire on law enforcement officers, killing Eyer and three others.
The husband and father was part of a team executing a warrant for the arrest of Hughes, who was wanted out of Lincoln County, on Monday along Galway Drive in east Charlotte.
The other three law enforcement officers who were killed have been identified as:
Samuel Poloche, NC Dept. of Adult Corrections (Member of U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force)
William Elliott, NC Dept. of Adult Corrections (Member of U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force)
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr. (Assigned to the Western District of North Carolina and supporting the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force)
Hughes was fatally shot by law enforcement on Monday when police said he came out of the east Charlotte home, armed.
Served with the National Guard for 12 years
Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Eyer served with the North Carolina National Guard from November 28, 2011, to November 27, 2023.
He earned an honorable discharge from the NCNG after 12 years of service, which included two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Spartan Shield.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our public safety partners during this tragic time, as well as the family and friends of those who lost a loved one,” the NC National Guard said Wednesday.
April 2024 Officer of the Month
CMPD released additional information on fallen Officer Eyer on Wednesday. The department said on Monday, April 15, he was awarded Officer of the Month for “his outstanding proactive policing efforts patrolling the areas of Sugar Creek, North Tryon Street and the I-85 corridor.”
CMPD said Eyer worked to address quality of life concerns within these areas, helping the community and local business owners.
In the span of just three weeks before receiving this award, Eyer and fellow CMPD Officer Aubrey Guldager made 16 arrests with 14 of those linked to felony cases involving charges of:
Possession of a firearm by a felon
Attempted first-degree murder
Armed robbery
Common law robbery
Various drug-related felonies and property crimes
“These arrests made an incredible impact on local crime and quality of life concerns,” CMPD said.
This is just a small glimpse at Officer Eyer’s dedication to his work and his commitment to protecting and serving the City of Charlotte. He was a phenomenal officer and the epitome of what our officers and all law enforcement strive to be each and every day. We ask that you continue to keep Officer Eyer’s family in your thoughts and prayers. We are so grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of support for our CMPD officers and staff who continue to serve our community during this devastating time.
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG POLICE
CMPD will honor the life and service of Officer Joshua Eyer on Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church located at 301 S. Davidson Street in uptown Charlotte.
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