Fallen Richardson PD officer remembered at funeral
DALLAS - A funeral service Tuesday brought together hundreds of family, friends and fellow officers to honor a Richardson police officer and support his family.
Officer David Sherrard was killed in the line of duty last week while responding to a call at an apartment complex. He was remembered as a great officer, father, husband and friend in front of a full audience at Dallas' Watermark Church.
A fellow Richardson police officer who spoke said Sherrard was the first one in that apartment last Wednesday. When he got shot, he got himself out of the apartment so others officers wouldn't try to rescue him and get shot too.
"David's memory will live on forever at the Richardson Police Department, I promise you that," said Richardson PD Chief Jimmy Spivey.
Sherrard's widow, Nicole, says the couple, who were high school sweethearts, went through difficult times -- even talked about divorce. But in recent years their marriage was stronger than ever.
"David's faith grew and he loved me," Nicole said. "I am going to miss David. Our love, laughs, double date nights, talking all throughout the day."
His friends on the force echoed that sentiment, telling Nicole and her kids they'll never be alone.
Wylie resident Diana Awes brought her daughter and friend to the service.
"They wanted to come and I said absolutely you can," Diana Awes said. Sophia Awes is friends with Sherrard's daughter, Grace, at the school both girls attend.
"I told her to be strong that there's lots of support from McMillan Junior High," Sophia Awes said.
First responders from across the state and beyond attended on Tuesday.
"It's a part of us, it's a brotherhood, especially after 9-11, you've got to pay your respects to these guys," said Mike Applequist, Retired New York State Police Officer.
Sherrard and another man, Rene Gamez, were killed last Wednesday as police responded to a disturbance call at an apartment complex. The 13-year veteran of the force is the first officer killed in the line of duty in Richardson. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
The funeral procession traveled from the church along the LBJ Freeway all the way to the Rowlett area where he was laid to rest.
Gamez will be laid to rest next week. His family called him a kind-hearted man who loved to laugh. He was a friend of the accused killer, Brandon McCall, and had actually given him a place to stay because he had nowhere else to go, his family said.