Community Holds Candlelight Vigil For Fallen Richardson Officer
RICHARDSON (CBSDFW.COM) - An entire community came together Sunday evening to honor the sacrifice of a Richardson police officer.
The candlelight vigil was held at the Richardson Civic Center for fallen officer David Sherrard.
Officer Sherrard was shot and killed in the line of duty Wednesday evening at the Breckinridge Point Apartments in Richardson. He was 37 years old and a 14-year veteran with Richardson police.
A friend of the suspected gunman was also shot and killed that night. The suspected gunman, Brandon De McCall, remains in jail in McKinney.
A huge crowd turned out to the vigil in support for the officer's family.
Volunteers were out at the location all day Sunday to set up for the vigil. Blue ribbons were on almost every tree and street sign to honor the fallen officer.
Bonnie Rothis was one of the many volunteers who knew and loved Officer Sherrard.
"He loved to make you laugh. He loved to laugh himself. I don't know a time he wasn't laughing," said Rothis. "I'll miss him. He was a great guy. It won't be the same."
Sherrard's family remembered the officer with admiration.
"I can't think of a better husband or a better father, and I know they're going to miss him so much," said sister Crystal Sherrard.
He was also respected by the other officers he went to work with every day.
"Dave was the guy you wanted to back you up on any and every call for two reasons. One, he would make it funny, make you laugh and still handle it in the most professional way possible. Two, he would always have your back and finish any fight you started," said Detective Matt Lynch with Richardson police.
As a sniper for the SWAT team, it was clear Sherrard made an impact on the job.
"We've lost an amazing part of our police department, a leader. The guy who picked us up. The guy who carried us," said Richardson Police Chief Jim Spivey.
As the sun went down, the crowd slowly passed a flame from person to person.
The Collin County district attorney was also in attendance. While he concentrated on honoring Sherrard, he started by telling the crowd that he knows what his duty is and said he will see to it that justice is served.
