South Jersey Cops Will "Face Off" To Help One Of Their Own

By KYW's David Madden

CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- Police and civilian workers in the Camden County Police Department are coming to the financial aid of an Atlantic City officer critically wounded in the line of duty over the Labor Day weekend.

And they're doing it on ice.

The "Blue Knights" have never played a game together before. Next Saturday, they'll face off against the Atlantic City Guns and Hoses, a team of first responders at the Flyers Skate Zone in Atlantic City.

It's to benefit Officer Joshlee Vadell , who suffered a bullet wound to the head last month. Camden County detective Lucas Murray is one of those organizing the event, which he labels "bad hockey for a good cause."

"When an officer's injured, we always ask ourselves what can we do and this just seemed a logical thing to do for us," Murray told KYW Newsradio.

Vadell's in rehab and his wife just gave birth to a little girl. Funds raised will go to help the family defray those costs. They're asking for 10 bucks per person at the door. There'll also be a raffle and silent auction, in addition to entertainment and more to make it a fun night.

But Murray says the new team is also meant to be a sort of community outreach effort back home.

"Anything we can do to bring a positive light to police work and to allow the public to see us as ordinary people doing a very difficult job helps build our relationship with the community."