WHEREAS, Tommy (TJ) Ramos, a 9 year old playing catcher for Torresdale Boys Club baseball team, whose catching style emulates that of his baseball hero, Philadelphia Phillie Carlos Chooch Ruiz, fell ill and suddenly collapsed while at baseball practice on September 12th, 2013, at Torresdale Playground; and
WHEREAS, TJ's baseball coach at Torresdale is Philadelphia Police Officer John Callahan, a 20 year veteran of the force who has been assigned to the K-9 unit for the past 11 years; and
WHEREAS, Also on the baseball team is the son of John Pasquarello, an officer of the Philadelphia Police Department for 18 years who happened to be at Torresdale watching his son's baseball practice. Both officers sprang into action, calling on their extensive medical training and law enforcement experience to immediately assess TJ's condition; and
WHEREAS, The officers quickly realized that TJ had stopped breathing. Officer Callahan began to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, with Officer Pasquarello doing chest compressions until an ambulance arrived; and
WHEREAS, Officers Callahan and Pasquarello accompanied TJ and his parents, Carlos and Micki, to Aria Health Torresdale where it was determined that TJ should be transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for further evaluation. TJ was eventually diagnosed with a genetic heart condition. He had surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, with the hope that one day he will be able to resume his baseball career; and
WHEREAS, TJ's recovery has been aided by a loving support group consisting of aunts, uncles, his grandmother, Connie McCourt, his fellow students at Saint Jerome's Catholic Elementary School, members of Torresdale Boys Club and Tommy's biggest champion of all, his 11 year old brother Aiden, who took to Twitter to ask for prayers for his little brother as he was being treated and who has been by Tommy's side throughout this ordeal; and
WHEREAS, Officer Callahan resides in Torresdale with his wife Kristen and his 2 children, Kaitlin and Brian. Officer Pasquarello and his wife Lisa also live in Torresdale with their two boys, John and Brian. Their act of heroism undoubtedly saved this young boy's life; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and recognize Philadelphia Police Officers John Callahan and John Pasquarello for their heroic acts in saving the life of 9 year old Tommy (TJ) Ramos.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Officers Callahan and Pasquarello,
as further evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
End