Officer Josh Vadell's Nova Rebuild

On September 3 at 0230 hours, Atlantic City Police Officer Josh Vadell and his partner interrupted a Robbery in Progress.  Upon exiting their police vehicle they were immediately met with gunfire and Officer Vadell was struck in the head while his partner courageously returned fire.  After surviving the surgery, Josh has completed rehabilitation in Montgomery County, PA.  While some officers were attempting to find ways to motivate Josh to keep pushing hard in his recovery, it was discovered that he recently inherited his late father’s 1976 Chevrolet Nova.  Josh has dreamed of fixing this car up and getting it on the road to honor his father.  But, the car needs a large amount of restoration and this incident has most certainly placed it as a non-priority is Josh’s life.  In addition to being shot in the line of duty, Josh’s wife also gave birth to their third child following his injury.  Well, some of us decided that the Nova is a priority and would motivate Josh to keep working toward a full recovery.  With Josh’s wife Laura’s blessing, we began planning to restore the vehicle.

Upon learning of Josh’s dream, James Buckley, the owner of both Manncave Custom & Performance Shop and Tanner Avenue Autobody in Hatboro, PA offered free labor and his cost on parts to bring the car back.  The car has made its journey by flatbed to Hatboro and Buckley has started working on it before a single dollar is even raised.  The hope is to have the vehicle restored and given to Josh and his family on New Year's, so a quick fund raising and restoration to get the car done by that time would be awesome.  Buckley is holding up his side of the build and Josh is doing his part by pushing hard every day to make his full recovery.

Josh was informed before going home to New Jersey that Buckley would be "getting his car back on the road".  He has no idea of the magnitude of the rebuild, but to say that he was appreciative of being able to have his father's Nova on the road would be the understatement of a lifetime.  He was told that he would not receive the keys to the car if he waivered in his commitment to rehabiliation.  Josh accepted the challenge, now it's our time.

The Atlantic City Police Department’s Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and Mrs. Vadell have sanctioned this project and fund.  The ACPD PBA President Matt Rogers is available to be contacted for verification.

The more money that is raised, the more money that will be poured into the car.  Let’s make it beautiful.

Please feel free to contact with any questions.

It's not often that Cops get a second chance at life after an incident like this, let's give Josh his dream car.