"Heroes Live Forever" - the story of Los Angeles Police Officer Christy Lynne Hamilton

Christy Hamilton inspired many when she became the oldest woman to graduate from the Los Angeles Police Academy. Sadly, four days later, at the age of 45, she was shot and killed.

Los Angeles Police Officer Christy Lynne Hamilton

McLean, VA (October 7, 2025) - Christy Lynne Hamilton’s life-long dream was to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a Los Angeles police officer. But for many years that dream was put on hold while Christy raised her two children, Kelley and Steven. Finally, with her children grown, 45-year-old Christy Hamilton became a rookie police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. But on February 22, 1994, just four days after her graduation ceremony from the Police Academy, she was shot and killed responding to a domestic disturbance call. It was a little after one in the morning when Christy and other officers arrived on the scene. Suddenly, a hail of gunfire was raining down on them. Officer Hamilton was hit and, an hour later, she died at a nearby hospital. Her assailant was a habitual drug user who had murdered his father and then waited to ambush the police he knew would arrive. He then died by suicide. Christy’s father, retired Los Angeles Det. Ken Brondell, said later, “She would have worn [her badge] without arrogance. She didn’t want a badge to have authority; she wanted to go out and help people. It’s just too bad it got cut short.”

Listen to the podcast here to learn more: https://open.substack.com/pub/behindbadge/p/heroes-live-forever-the-story-of-a20