Editor's note: An earlier edition of this story said it was an Atchison County ambulance that could not respond for assistance. Instead, it was an unspecified "local ambulance," with Atchison County Chief of Emergency Services telling MSC News, "Atchison County EMS and Atchison County Rescue were able to reach every single call during that snowstorm. Mr. O'Grady is a member of Atchison County Rescue and we a proud of that fact. We are also certainly proud of all our staff that braved the conditions that day to reach every single call for help."

We apologize for the incorrect information and have updated the story to better reflect accuracy.

(KAIR)--An Atchison Police Officer is named as "Ace of the Month," and the story behind his nomination stems from his actions during a matter of life or death.

MPO John O'Grady was nominated for the honor by Matthew Carr, named in a release from the City of Atchison as a "fellow employee" of O'Grady.

It was in January, Carr wrote in his letter of nomination, during that month's blizzard that left area roadways nearly impassable, that his father required hospital care; but, due to the conditions, a local ambulance, as he stated, was unable to respond to the location, leaving O'Grady, who was off duty, called to assist. "Without hesitation," Carr writes, O'Grady said yes, and provided access to his father, "gave the paramedics items they needed from the jump bag, and helped carry him out on a backboard through the snow to the back of a truck which took him to the ambulance."

Carr adds that it's not just what O'Grady did, but what he said," telling Carr he hoped his dad gets better.

Carr's father did not survive; and, when he told O'Grady several days later, he looked Carr in the eyes and said, "Just know we did all we could do."

O'Grady has been with the Atchison Police Department for four years, but has, the City's release says, "served as a first responder in many different roles over the span of his career."

As Ace for the month of March, O'Grady receives a $50 gift card, good at any local business, and is included in the running for Ace of the year.