Yesterday at around 7:00 PM Patrolman David Sherrard of the Richardson Police Department was shot as he and another officer responded to a disturbance call. When the two officers arrived, they found a wounded man outside the apartments. Either from this person or someone else officers learned where the suspected shooter lived. As Officer Sherrard and the other officer entered the apartment the suspect shot Officer Sherrard in the neck. Though quickly transported to a hospital the officer died about three hours later. The wounded man also died that night.
While Patrolman Sherrard was being evacuated, other officers surrounded the apartment or evacuated neighbors. Police attempted to talk the suspect out of his residence but he refused to exit. Several hours later, just before midnight, a SWAT unit fired gas rounds into the apartment. The suspect surrendered a few minutes later.
Patrolman Sherrard was the first officer ever to die in the line of duty in Richardson. The police department there was organized some sixty-three years ago. Officer Richardson, a 13-year veteran, leaves behind his wife and two daughters, as well as his colleagues at the Richardson Police Department.
The civilian who was killed, Rene Gamez, also leaves behind his spouse. Investigators believe that the suspect and Gamez were known to each other, and may have been friends. The Plano Police Department has taken over the investigation at the request of Chief Spivey, Richardson PD. The Chief stated that he was very grateful for this assistance, but added that the officers of Richardson PD, while grieving their loss, are going about their duties today in a professional manner, as well as they are able under the circumstances.
Arguments between persons who are not domestic partners are the second most deadly calls for police officers. In many of these situations one of the persons has already been injured or killed (as in the call to which Officer Sherrard responded) by the time officers arrive. In the moments after one person has made the decision to kill or injure another, the actor is often hyper-excited, fearful of being shot himself, and possibly under the influence of alcohol or some other substance. At this time the actor will very likely attempt to shoot himself out of the situation, or in many cases, "commit suicide" by firing at officers in order to force officers to return fire.
If a person faces arrest in the moments after he has killed (or believes he has killed another) he may feel that his only recourse is to escape by shooting officers who are approaching his location. Yet, as time passes (as with a stand-off with a SWAT team) the suspect may 1) decide that he does not want to die, and 2) realize that he is now facing overwhelming force and there of course can only be one outcome if he chooses to "shoot his way out." Thus comes the "meek surrender" and the "arrest without further incident."
I cannot and will not second guess the decisions made by the officers involved in this situation. However, so that Officer Sherrard's death cannot be considered a vain sacrifice, I would like to point out some things that officers can consider, at least if they have the time and opportunity. First, once a suspect is located and his movement confined, such as to his apartment, time is now on the side of the police. This lesson is both simple and yet difficult to learn at the same time.
I can say from personal experience that most police officers want to end the situation immediately and especially to capture a dangerous person as soon as possible, both to protect themselves and to protect the community at large. And I have personally kicked my way into an apartment literally while a person lay dying outside in the parking lot. Both I and my partner lived to tell the story, which was more related to luck than skill or good police work. But our hearts were in the right place, as was that of Patrolman Sherrard. There was little thought as to personal safety; the main thing was to get the killer before he could get away and hurt someone else. But there were other reasons the two of us chose not to wait for more help.
For one thing, the shooter's apartment faced the parking lot, so that paramedics could not treat the victim or even safely reach him while the suspect was free inside the apartment. A second consideration was that if the suspect managed to leave his apartment, he had hostages instantly available in the adjoining apartments. For my partner and I, there was little debate. We made an instant plan and we executed it. The suspect fortunately elected to throw away his gun immediately and that was that. Perhaps Patrolman Sherrard was in this same situation - neither he nor his partner felt they could wait for backup. Unfortunately the suspect in this case decided to shoot the first officer than came through the door.
Officers should remember that, IF they KNOW they have the suspect contained, time is now their friend. The suspect, at first pumped by adrenaline, slowly begins to realize that he has no way out, has no one that can come to his aid, has no one that can watch for him while he rests. And he has time to think about what he has done. Most of all, the suspect now realizes that the police will eventually breach his apartment. There will be gas, concussion grenades, blazing lights...and many very angry officers with weapons. Many times either the application of gas, or the mere show of force of the arriving SWAT team will eventually convince the suspect to surrender. If, however, the worst-case scenario occurs and the suspect's sanctuary must be breached, the odds now much greatly favor the police. The entry is still risky for officers, but much more so for the person inside.
Officer Sherrard had a decision to make, along with his fellow officer. Only those two knew all the facts, only those two knew whether or not they could afford to wait for more officers. Apparently they felt they could not wait. Both officers placed the safety of the apartment residents above their own, and with that decision, Patrolman David Sherrard made the ultimate sacrifice for his fellow man.
I thank you, Officer Sherrard, for your service. You gave the "last measure of full devotion," as one great American said it. I pray that the Good Shepherd continues to comfort your family and your fellow officers. As for you, David, welcome to that Thin Blue Line in Heaven.
St. John 15:13
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