Life Saving Award presentations by police can sometimes get emotional. That’s just what happened Monday night at the St. Joseph City Commission meeting when Deputy Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker honored Vedette Cordes for saving the life of Jaden Smith in July 2018 after he wizzed by her car on a skateboard down Park Street hill and crashed into the window of Outpost Sports.
“Without the quick thinking of Vedette, this incident could have turned tragic,” said Neubecker. He then called Smith forward, where he gave Cordes flowers and a hug, and both received a standing ovation.
Cordes said in the hallway outside commission chambers after receiving the award that she promised herself she wouldn’t cry as the tears had already started to fall while she posed for pictures with Smith.
Also honored with Life Saving Awards were Christopher Martin and Mayor Mike Garey for quickly helping a man they saw crash his vehicle on the Blossomland Bridge last October. They pulled him out, did CPR, and he was rushed to Spectrum Health Lakeland where he survived a heart attack.
