Jimmie Don KITTERMAN

The man. The myth. The legend. Jimmie D. Kitterman. A true giant among men. He departed the physical world and now lives a life he deserves and has earned through his kindness and generosity. On Friday October 13th, 2017 he passed away at his residence peacefully in his sleep. Our country, this community and his family lost one of the greatest men to ever walk this earth. Not to mention the best police officer to ever wear the uniform. Born July 4th, 1942 in Louisville, KY. His family soon moved to Malden MO after his birth, a small town in South East Missouri, this is where Jimmie grew up but as an adult he raised his family in the St. Louis area. A place he was proud to call home. He is son of the late Forrest and Francis Kitterman. Loving father, protector and teacher of Juila Ann Emery, Nancee Elizabeth Mareshal, Rebecca Lynn Johnson and son, Donald Forrest Kitterman. A Loving brother to a sister that preceded him in death, Patti Coker and two sisters he leaves behind, Nancy Buttrey and Martha Kincaid. Our father had a way of teaching his children important life lessons and instilling in us a strong moral compass and work ethic. He did so by his deeds and not just by his words. He was a giver and not a taker. He shared everything he had, with whomever he could, no matter how much or how little he had. He loves his neighbors and his whole career was about service to others, if you were in need he would find a way to help. He would treat everyone with kindness and respect regardless of their background. He was an awesome guy- big on common sense and even bigger on common courtesy. If you believe as the Kitterman’s believe, you know Jimmie’s existence now is one free of pain, worry, suffering, heart ache, illness, stress, danger, guilt, fear, loneliness, sadness, and trauma. While, all of us can relate, on some level, to most these feelings and life experiences, not all of us understand trauma. Nor have we felt the impact of its prolonged after effects. Only the most courageous among us possess the strength and dedication needed to voluntarily place themselves in an environment where you most likely experience high levels of stress and trauma multiple times a year, month, week and in some cases multiple traumatic events daily. Can you imagine investigating the rape of a six-month old girl? Can you imagine being next to a fellow officer who was shot in the face while conducting a marijuana raid? Can you imagine being first on the scene where a college age girl was home for the holidays who was electrocuted when she accidently dropped a hair dryer in her bath water? Jimmie Kitterman could not only imagine these things, he lived this life for 20+ years. He made a pledge to protect and serve the good people of St. Louis and he did so with great pride and effectiveness as he remained a dedicated St. Louis City Law Enforcement Officer. He never brought his work home with him. Only in his last years were his son and daughters able to get him to share the experiences that haunted him the most. The three-questions posed above about what police officers experience doesn’t even scratch the surface of what he and others experience through-out their career as Law Enforcement Officers. Considering the era in which he served, what little we understood, and the stigma surrounding mental illness his Cumulative PTSD went undiagnosed and never properly treated. Not understanding first responders, especially Police Officers, can have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is tragic. His family became familiar with this relatively new discovery recently and far too late, had we understood sooner we would have encouraged him to get a regular check-up from the neck up too. Just like he received regular physical exams. Please don’t fret because he led a full life. His life contained more plot twists and excitement than a block buster movie especially after he discovered the medicinal value in Marijuana. Once he was clued in on its medical value, he did what Detective Jimmie Kitterman did best, he conducted an exhaustive and thorough investigation and it became evident to him the government was spreading blatant lies and propaganda. This both angered him and frustrated him. He understood what the public by in large did not, Marijuana prohibition created a black market and in-turn it created crime. It invites unwanted criminals into our communities, the very communities we ask great men and women to protect. He understood better than anyone how unjust the prohibition on Cannabis is and he would want everyone to understand these laws place dedicated men and women in conflict, both physically and mentally. Not to mention, it makes criminals out of the addicted. The addicted and the citizens of our community would be better served by treating a medical problem with approved therapies Vs prison time. Up and to the day of his death Jimmie resented man-made pharmaceuticals and the greed that tainted their purpose, he treated his undiagnosed PTSD with what he considered, the most therapeutic plant known to man, God’s medicine- Marijuana. The only shame was he was forced to do so in secret, in fear of punishment and retribution for engaging in a harmless activity that made him feel well. In his honor, his children share a fraction of this man’s amazing story and we do so in effort to raise awareness of Cumulative PTSD and the impact it has on Law Enforcement Officers and first Responders. We also ask that you consider how prohibition denies natural therapeutic medicine to those in need. Below are links to organizations in which you can discover more on both topics: Cumulative PTSD: https://www.policeone.com/health-fitness/articles/323686006-Police-officers-face-cumulative-PTSD http://www.policesuicidestudy.com/id31.html http://lawofficer.com/exclusive/the-reality-of-cumulative-ptsd/ Cannabis Prohibition: http://norml.org/component/zoo/category/norml-report-on-sixty-years-of-marijuana-prohibition-in-the-us https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2017/08/01/marijuana-justice-act-would-end-weed-prohibition-throughout-the-land/#b205f1a68c01 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 from 1-3 P.M with a service at 3 P.M at Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services, 2115 Parkway Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376.

Jimmie Don KITTERMAN

July 4, 1942 - October 13, 2017