nmah4374.xml

nmah4374.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was in the computer services office at the Jefferson County Police Department in Louisville, Kentucky. Another officer was in his office next door, and called out for us to watch the TV. A airplane had flown into one of the World Trade Center towers. We arrived in his office just in time to see a replay of the first plane striking the tower. After watching for a few minutes, I went to the third floor, Criminal Investigations Property Crimes Section. I work in the Fraud Unit and at the time we didn't have a TV. But every other office did. My partners and I went to the other offices, and proceeded to watch as the terrorist attacks continued. Every TV on the floor was tuned to a different news channel as we tried to get information on the attacks. We did not investigate crime that day, and the phones DID NOT ring.

I picked up my 10 yr old daughter at school that afternoon, and asked her if she knew anything about what had happened. The school had made an announcement, and the TVs in the classrooms were tuned into the news. Shelby said the teacher provided answers to the kids questions. She asked me why this had occurred. I found it difficult to explain the motives behind such an attack.
After putting her to bed that night, I cried. I teared up every day for at least a month.

We attended a candlelight memorial at Jefferson Square, where the memorials to local police officers and firefighters is located. We learned that members of the Louisville Division of Fire, Quint 9, had spoken with firefighters in New York and been given a list of supplies that were needed. They were leaving for New York the next morning, and wanted to take leather work gloves, underwear, heavy socks, and bottled water. Upon leaving the memorial, we went to K-Mart and purchased the requested items, and delivered them to Quint 9. We also included sympathy cards. The next morning the news reported that the firefighters who were enroute to NY had so many donations, a small trailer was donated.

Later, the community began raising money for the relief efforts. Shelby insisted on contributing $10 to the effort. She personally handed the money to a firefighter.
The Louisvile/Jefferson County area raised $1.5 million.

My personal life hasn't changed much. I cherish my mother and daughter more than ever. My daughter now knows, her father and I could be killed at any moment while at work. She wanted us to quit. This didn't last long. Now when her father and I talk of retirement, she says she doesn't want us to retire. She's the only kid in school whose parents are both police officers.

My work life has changed. We are busier than every. The FBI and Secret Service don't have the time to conduct the fraud/counterfeit check investigations as in the past. A Counter-Terrorism Task Force has been formed, and local agents were placed on the task force. So we get the additional work, which is fine. The public is still as critical and impatient with the police. It's still "I pay you salary". My response hasn't changed: "I still pay taxes, so I'm paying my own salary." Extra consideration is not given during contract negotiations by local officials. Homeland Defense positions aren't filled by the most qualified, but by the good old boy system.

I feel helpless in the fight against terrorism, because I work at the local level. Even if I were to retire in November 2002, I cannot apply for a air marshall position. At the age of 44, I'm too old. They will hire a 56 year old retired FBI agent, but not a 44 yr old local cop. The retired FBI agent get to take a year off his age for every year he was an agent. My department has a number of officers retiring that want to continue to work in some capacity. A lot have wanted to apply to the air marshall program, but it's the age thing.

It odd that this past year, I should learn more about my father service in the Army. I knew he had served in WWII but didn't know he was part of the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star. I also found a box of WWII souveniers. He never showed them to me even though I served for 20 yrs in the KY Army National Guard. I also learned more about his service in Viet Nam. I found a certificate presented to him by the South Vietnamese government.

We need to remember to keep our Homeland Defense strong. Continue with the screening of people seeking entry into the US. Enforce INS laws, and deport violators. Stregthen our borders.
This was a lesson in what can happened when your guard is down. It also shows what has occurred thanks to Clinton's cuts in the military.

Yes, I flew the flag.
My feelings didn't change. I was raised to be patriotic, and respect the flag. I'm raising my daughter the same way.