The Resume

(February 17, 1971-January 5, 2006)
Born in North Arlington, New Jersey
Cop with the New York City Police Department
Spent over 450 hours in the rubble of the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks
Shortly afterward developed a persistent cough and went on permanent disability in 2004
Died of respiratory disease in Orange County, New Jersey at age 34
Controversy surrounded his death over whether he was a 9/11 'walking dead' casualty or died from self-injection of ground drugs (asserted by NYC Chief Medical Examiner Charles Hirsch)
Namesake of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, signed into law by U.S. President Barack Obama (January 2, 2011)

Why he might be annoying:

Though he stated he felt the N.Y.P.D. had turned its back on him, in 2004 he was awarded over $1 million by the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, and his disability was granted as 'Ground Zero dust related.'
In 2003, his wife died of heart failure brought on by 'drug misuse' (track marks were found on her arms and an autopsy revealed narcotics in her system).
After Hirsch revealed his findings (Oct. 2007), NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg tarnished his reputation by stating, 'We wanted to have a hero, and there are plenty of heroes, it’s just in this case, science says this was not a hero.'
His actions may have had noble intent, but it left his 4-year-old daughter without parents when he died.

Why he might not be annoying:

He joined the N.Y.P.D. in 1992 and achieved the rank of detective.
As a cop, he earned 31 medals of excellence.
He selflessly put himself at risk when disaster struck on September 11, 2001.
By 2002, he couldn't walk 100 feet without gasping for air.
When an initial autopsy revealed talc, cellulose, calcium phosphate and methacrylate plastic in his lungs, Hirsch presented his findings of lung disease through injection of prescription drugs (no track marks were found on his arms) 20 months after he died.
Many believe the Hirsch findings to be politically motivated, and that a 'Ground Zero ruling' would open a floodgate of litigation, lawsuits and monetary payouts.
When the Republican Party mounted a filibuster on the Zadroga bill, Jon Stewart mounted an awareness campaign to help defuse it, and Congress approved the act (December 22, 2010).
Though it took several years, he has finally been recognized as a first responder who died because he was doing in duty in contaminated Ground Zero dust.

Credit: Scar Tactics

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Goatees
• I Became a Dad in 2001
• I Died in 2006 (Ranked: 34)
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 34)
• I Died Under Mysterious Circumstances
• I Lost a Lot of Weight
• I'm Depressed [Reportedly Uni-polar]
• Look at Me, I'm in Agony
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing a Baseball Cap
• Look at My Bling Bling
• Mustaches
• Pale Faces
• Police Officers
• Profiles 30501-30750 (Ranked: 30729)
• Scar Tactics' Profiles [Series 10]

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 64 Votes: 45.31% Annoying