Valor Awards
Gold Medal Of Valor
Officer Josh Lee Vadell Officer Thomas McCabe Atlantic City Local 24
This one ’ s for Tommy
The applause for Josh Lee Vadell thunders every time he appears with the NJ State PBA or at one of these events to honor his valor . But this time , Vadell clapped the loudest and longest .
He wanted the tribute to go to his partner , his best friend , his brother and fellow Atlantic City Officer Tommy McCabe , whose heroics on that Sept . 3 , 2016 night when Vadell was hit with a debilitating , skull-shattering , almost-life-ending shot in the head were lifesaving , meritorious , solid gold and more .
“ I ’ m actually happy Tommy is getting the recognition he deserves ,” exclaimed Vadell who with every step he takes and every move he makes rocks McCabe ’ s world . “ As I always say to you , if it wasn ’ t for Tommy , there wouldn ’ t be a story to tell . He stepped up and took action that most people would think they couldn ’ t do .”
For the one or two people who haven ’ t been inspired by this story , on Sept . 3 , 2016 , Vadell and McCabe were on patrol when they pulled up on a suspect in a parking lot near Caesar ’ s holding a gun to a victim ’ s head . A robbery appeared to be in progress and when Vadell and McCabe saw the victim ’ s pants around his ankles , they went into action .
The man with the gun got off a shot , that Vadell recalls hitting him in the head . He heard McCabe return fire . He couldn ’ t move . McCabe took out the gunman , then moved Vadell to the squad car to rush him to the hospital . There was no time to wait for an ambulance , and that ’ s probably what saved Vadell ’ s life .
More than a year later , Vadell shared what transpired in the squad car prior to the shooting that night ; what went on many nights that proved to be the difference in this situation .
“ We always rehearsed what we would do if we were in a shooting situation ,”
Vadell revealed . “ And Tommy stuck to that plan . Then , he rendered aid to me , got me to the hospital and saved my life . I am forever indebted to Tommy .”
McCabe noted that instinct , fueled by military training and primarily training from his time with Atlantic City , took over .
“ A few of the guys in our department always talk about mindset ,” he explained . “ That ’ s the ultimate thing that not only saved Josh ’ s life but allowed me to perform the way I did . We always discussed if this happens , this is where we go , this is what we do . Thank God that ’ s what happened that night .”
More than a dozen surgeries later , including skull reconstruction , Vadell pushes his recovery beyond expectations every day . Nobody celebrates that more than McCabe .
“ Pretty much , every time he ’ s recognized , it feels like the first time I got the phone call when he woke up in the hospital ,” McCabe shared . “ Because it still isn ’ t reality . There ’ s no way this happened and he ’ s as good as he is now . He ’ s made so much progress that it ’ s unheard of .”
For their PBA sisters and brothers and for the supporting public , Vadell and McCabe will be forever linked by that night . McCabe confided how he will never forget Vadell ’ s head lying in his lap while they raced to the hospital , part of his head obliterated and Vadell talking the entire ride . Vadell said he will never forget McCabe telling him , “ Stay with me . Stay with me , Josh .”
And they will forever be family . Vadell will be best man at McCabe ’ s wedding in 2018 . When he gets up to make his best man ’ s toast , it will probably go something like this :
“ He ’ s got the biggest heart of anybody I know ,” Vadell cheered . “ Since that day , anything I ever needed , I ask Tommy . And he ’ s always right there , no matter what else he ’ s got going on in his life .”
All the while , McCabe will be sitting there , continuing to marvel at how Vadell has made it to this point .
“ The only thing I can say to people is that he ’ s Josh Vadell ,” McCabe honored . “ And that explains everything . His attitude alone , you can ’ t compare it to anybody else . He ’ s not normal . He ’ s extraordinary .” d
www . njcopsmagazine . com ■ DECEMBER 2017 47