2018 NJSPBA Valor Awards
Bronze Medal of Valor
Offi cer Michael Elia
Offi cer Vincent Mattielli
Bayonne Local 7
A little pepper and a lot of hustle
Although Bayonne Local 7 Officers Vincent Mattielli and Mi-
chael Elia have 41 years combined on the job, the events that led
to them earning a Bronse Medal of Valor were a first for both.
On Aug. 25, 2017, both officers responded to a domestic dis-
pute. As Elia stepped out of his patrol car, an unknown male car-
rying a knife in each hand charged the officer. The suspect struck
the vehicle’s passenger window and hood, then proceeded to
make his way to the driver’s side, where Elia was able to use his
door to block the attacker.
Both Elia and Mattielli ordered the suspect to drop his knives.
When he refused, Mattielli deployed his OC spray, hitting the
suspect in the face. The suspect rallied and again came at Elia.
“Vince pepper-sprayed him, and we took two shots at him be-
cause he was coming at us pretty aggressively,” Elia recalls.
Luckily, his efforts were unsuccessful, as Elia was able to dis-
charge two rounds from his firearm, ending the threat to both
him and his partner.
At the awards ceremony, the officers described their presence
on stage as a humbling experience. Mattielli, who has been on
the job for 18 years, was appreciative of the recognition.
“You see a lot and you experience a lot, but you don’t always get
recognized for what you do,” he affirms.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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