ER nurse honored for trying to save fallen Richardson officer

An ER nurse tasked with trying to save a fallen officer's life is honored with an award for her efforts.

Kim Adams is a nurse in the ER at Medical City Plano who was on staff on February 7 when Richardson Police Officer David Sherrard was brought in after being fatally shot during a standoff.

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Though the team's efforts were not successful, Adams was recognized for her caring and compassion that night. Officer Sherrard's wife was there to present the award.

According to those who were there the night Officer Sherrard was brought in, ER nurse Kim Adams stayed three hours after her shift to pray for the officer and make sure everyone else was okay. Hospital staff say it's her dedication that day that went above and beyond the call of duty giving her special recognition.

It was just five and a half months ago that the lives of Nicole Sherrard and nurse Kim Adams bonded in the ER.

An officer's wife herself, Adams says she couldn't help but feel a connection to the officer in front of her.

“I looked for his ring. I saw his ring. It looked just like my husband's,” she recalled. “And I think I was put in that room for that moment because I was able to stand there and able to pray.”

Adams says she completed her task administering the IV and then started praying.

“Praying for him. ‘Don't let them win. Don't let them take you down. Don't let them win.’ Praying for her immediately because right before my eyes, she didn't know it yet but our worst nightmare was coming true right in front of me. I was watching it,” she said.

Officer Sherrard did not survive, but Adams says she felt compelled to contact his family. She wrote a four-page letter to his widow and gifted Nicole a painting she created.

“That just shows the blue family,” Nicole said. “A lot of people don't understand that bond. But that just shows right there two women that have never met. And for her to reach out and share that, that just means the world to me.”

Which is what brought the two women back together on Wednesday when Adams was awarded for her caring and compassion.

“Everybody loved David, and he was just a special person,” Nicole said. “And because of that, I think everybody will just kind of continue to love and support us.”

The two women who were brought together by chance now with a lifelong friendship.

Since meeting, the two women have found they have a lot in common. They both have two kids and both their husbands have served in their respective police departments for 13 years.