Three Radford police officers have received the state award for valor following their acts to defuse a potentially lethal situation with a barricaded subject.
Radford City Police Department Lt. Evan S. McManus, Sgt. Jordan Ellis and Officer Jacob Caudell received the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and Foundation’s Award for Valor in a ceremony Sept. 1, 2026, in Roanoke. The ceremony recognized 26 Virginia law enforcement officers from nine agencies with the Award for Valor, the Association’s highest honor.
According to the VACP, the Award for Valor “recognizes a law enforcement officer who, in the line of duty, performs an act of extraordinary heroism while engaged with an adversary at imminent personal risk.”
“Three Radford City Police Officers were presented with the Award of Valor for their bravery, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the preservation of human life,” the RCPD announced. “We would also like to give an honorable mention to Kevin Frady, the NRVCS co-responder assigned to the Radford City Police Department. Kevin was on scene with these officers at the time of the incident and played a tremendous role in the outcome. We are proud to recognize all four individuals for their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to serving and protecting our community.”
According to the VACP, the Radford officers’ award stems from an incident in April.
“On April 20, 2026, Lieutenant Evan McManus, Sergeant Jordan Ellis, and Officer Jacob Caudell responded to a residence regarding a report that a roommate had barricaded himself inside while armed with multiple knives,” the VACP stated. “Upon arrival, the officers established verbal contact from outside the home and immediately evacuated a roommate to a safe location, preventing potential harm to an uninvolved party.”
“Recognizing the volatility of the situation, Sergeant Ellis demonstrated exceptional tactical foresight by deploying his less lethal shotgun while Lieutenant McManus maintained lethal cover,” the description of the incident continued. “The subject, later identified as a mental health consumer in crisis, suddenly emerged from the residence armed with a knife and advanced toward the officers in a threatening manner. Despite numerous clear and repeated verbal commands, the subject refused to comply and continued to close distance.”
“In an effort to resolve the encounter without loss of life, Officer Caudell deployed his Taser. The device proved ineffective, and the subject continued to advance with the knife in hand. With lethal force legally justified and seconds from becoming necessary, Sergeant Ellis fired three less lethal beanbag rounds, striking the subject and stopping his forward movement. This decisive action created the critical opportunity for the officers to safely take the individual into custody and ensure he received immediate mental health treatment.
Historically, incidents of this nature overwhelmingly result in the justified use of deadly force. In most cases, this subject would not have survived this encounter — through no fault of the responding officers — but due to the immediacy and severity of the threat. However, Lieutenant McManus, Sergeant Ellis, and Officer Caudell demonstrated extraordinary restraint, discipline, and commitment to preserving life, even while facing a subject who was actively threatening to kill them.
Their actions reflect the highest standards of policing. Through exceptional teamwork, sound judgment, and the courageous use of less lethal options under extreme pressure, these officers prevented a fatal outcome and ensured that a person in crisis received the treatment he desperately needed.”
“This is just one of many examples of the heroic efforts demonstrated by the men and women of the Radford City Police Department,” said RCPD Chief Jerry Holdaway. “We truly have some of the finest law enforcement professionals in the industry.”
The awards were presented during the VACP Awards Banquet at the 101st Annual VACP Conference in Roanoke. Governor Abigail D. Spanberger was the guest speaker and also assisted 2025-26 VACP President Chief John P. Clair (Blacksburg) with the presentation of the awards.
