CMPD mourns unexpected loss of homicide officer known for ‘kindness and good nature’

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Angela Starnes died unexpectedly in her home, Chief Johnny Jennings said on Monday.

“Anyone who knew her or worked with her knows her kindness and good nature will be missed dearly,” Jennings posted on Twitter.

CMPD did not provide a cause of death for Starnes, who worked in the Homicide Unit.

Starnes grew up in Gastonia, graduating from Ashbrook High School in 1991, according to the Gaston Gazette.

Funeral arrangements have not been set. CMPD officers will wear mourning bands in her honor, Jennings said.

In April 2018, CMPD honored Starnes as its Officer of the Month after she went out of her way to buy a meal and a bus ticket for a stranger stranded at Charlotte Douglas International Airport during a snowstorm.

At first, Starnes thought he was homeless, she told Fox 46. Starnes told the TV station, now known as Queen City News, that she had been homeless for a bit with young kids after a fire destroyed her house.

Later that year, Starnes helped a Gastonia woman whose friend got lost on a beach during a vacation, according to a CMPD Facebook post.

“It says a lot about someone that they’ll drop what they are doing even on vacation to help someone else without us even having to ask for help,” the woman wrote.

Starnes’ husband, Shane, also was a CMPD officer and police chief at Belmont Abbey College in Gaston County for 25 years but left the force after being diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, according to WSOC.

Fellow officers rallied to help them. Angela worked nights so she could take care of Shane during the day. He died in July 2014.