Before I even get into it, this article is not political. It is my opinion based on my experience as an NYPD lieutenant, working on 9/11/2001 and subsequently working at the site for several years thereafter while recovery work was being conducted.
New York City and life as we knew it changed on a dime that day. I remember the weather being perfect but the news was reporting a fire, not terrorism, at the north tower. As I was driving to work, at 9:03 am, the south tower was hit. As many of us were hearing it live we knew we were under attack. For the weeks and months after, if you were a first responder, you never knew when you were going home as 8 hour shifts became 12 hour shifts and often became 16 hour shifts as the norm. Quite often there was not enough time to go home and be back for your next scheduled tour, so many of us stayed at the command or slept at a family members house.
In the midst of the chaos, destruction, ashes and rubble was death. The FDNY lost 343 firefighters, 2 paramedics and their Chaplain Father Judge. In the years following, an additional 600 plus FDNY members died of illnesses as a result of exposure to toxins and debris. A total of 98 other first responders died that day as well, mostly NYPD and PAPD but also 8 EMTs. An excess of 245 first responders died of related illnesses in subsequent years from exposure as well. A total of 2,487 civilians died that day and over 5,000 civilians died subsequently through out the years from exposure. Over 3,000 children under the age of 18 lost at least one parent. In 2026 there was in excess of 57,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed related to exposure of 9/11 toxins, approximately half were first responders and the other 50% civilians who worked, lived etc in the WTC area. That 57,000 new cases represents an increase of 1,680 % when compared to 2015. The WTC Health Registry reports 96,000 cases of certified ailments related to 9/11 from cancer, sleep apnea, GERD, COPD PTSD, and depression with 35 registries dying by suicide.
The cases of illnesses and fatalities only seem to go up. I contracted three illnesses from the WTC which all three affect me everyday. However I still find myself to be fortunate. All gave some and many others gave all. My heart goes out to all those who were affected and gave all. I had quite a few co-workers and friends that either died on 9/11 or subsequent years from cancer or suicide. On 9/12/2001 we received an enormous amount of support from the public. It reminded us and gave us strength for what we were fighting for. As time went on that support for the police began to subside. We went from dedication to the police to defund the police. So do you support your police, first responders, emergency services, and the American way of life? If not, maybe you have not learned the lesson of 9/11.
The writer of this article retired from the NYPD in the rank of Captain after 31 years of service and lives in Westchester.