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Fair John Capano receives Medal of Valor
Family of slain ATF agent accepts award from vice president
It was a bittersweet moment for the Capano family. Dorea Capano and her children, John, 21, and Natalie, 18, were presented with the Medal of Valor Award last week in Washington D.C.
United States Vice President Joseph Biden presented the posthumous award for John Capano, 51, who was killed during an armed robbery the afternoon of Dec. 31, 2011, at Charlie’s Family Pharmacy in Seaford. Also on hand was United States Attorney General Eric Holder.
Capano, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, had dropped by the local pharmacy to pick up his elderly father’s medication. Although he was off-duty, Capano chased the robber, James McGoey, and attempted to stop him. Both Capano and McGoey were killed during an exchange of fire when a retired Nassau County police officer mistakenly shot and killed Capano.
The Medal of Valor was awarded to 22 people, two who received it posthumously, including Capano. It is the highest honor a person can receive and is given by the Justice Department.
“We hope there is some solace [in this honor] and we admire your courage and appreciate you’re being here,” Biden said to Capano’s family. “This was an amazing individual.” Biden placed the medal around son John’s neck.
“It was a wonderful ceremony,” said Congressman Peter King (R-Seaford), who was in attendance. “To be there and to join with his family and to see the pride that they felt was a good feeling. Still, there was an the underlying sadness that John was dead.”
But Biden reminded the Capano family that despite John’s tragic death, he is part of a “community that will never let you down. We thank you for all you have done.”
He said that Capano was one of a “rare breed. This is not just a job. It’s stamped into the DNA.”
The Capano family has a long history of community service, said King. Other members of the Capano family have been in law enforcement, and last year Capano’s son joined the New York City Police Department. “This is a dedicated law enforcement family,” King said.
King pointed out that Capano had also done explosives work in Afghanistan and Latin America and with the ATF. “How ironic that, for as much as he was involved, he was killed on Merrick Road in Seaford getting his father’s medication,” King said.
Biden and King called Capano “a real hero.”
But daughter Natalie, in her eulogy three years ago said, “It wasn’t just the final act that made my father a hero. It was everything he did throughout his life.
“People knew dad for his dedication to his job and the love for this family and his courageous selfless acts that shaped him into the person we all know and love. A hero lives each and every moment so that he ultimately is judged for his whole life and all of the small deeds that make him who he is. For that, Dad was and will always be our hero.”
