Corporal Kimberly K. Chaitman of the Washington University Police Department died unexpectedly at her home in O’Fallon, Mo., Aug. 5, 2012. She was 32.
Chaitman joined the Washington University Police Department as a patrol officer in November 2002 and was promoted to the rank of corporal in May 2011.
“I believe the university community was truly blessed to have Kim here,” says Don Strom, chief of WUPD. “She embraced the students at Washington University as her family. She drove them to the drugstore to get prescriptions when they needed them, and she went to check on them late at night to be sure they were still OK.
“Kim was one of the first recipients of the Chief’s Commendation for her efforts to help a student in a very difficult mental health situation — and likely may have saved that student’s life. We lost a great colleague and friend.”
At WUSTL, Chaitman served as a member of WUPD’s Special Response Team and as an instructor for RAD (Rape Aggression Defense), a self-defense program to teach men and women awareness, avoidance and physical defense techniques they can use when faced with potentially confrontational situations.
Before joining WUSTL, Chaitman had served as a police officer for University City.
Chaitman, a St. Louis native, was “truly passionate about her kids and family,” says her sister, Ellen Eaton, also a Washington University police officer.
Services were held Aug. 8 and 9 at Styger Funeral Home in St. Charles and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cottleville.
Chaitman is survived by her children Clayton, 12; Cameron, 8; and Madison, 6; her mother, Jan Rochman; sisters Ellen Eaton, Katie Buesse and Samantha Bub; and brothers Scott Buesse and Matt Buesse.