FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
CHIEF JOHN ZEBROWSKI SAYREVILLE PD
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | September 2021
The memories remain exceptionally vivid after 20 years . I still can remember every detail of where and what I was doing when I heard Flight 11 had slammed into the North Tower at New York ’ s World Trade Center at 8:42am on September 11 , 2001 . I am sure that is true for most who were in the throes of their law enforcement careers . The subsequent days would be equally vivid as many of us , along with our law enforcement partners , and Fire , EMS and rescue communities converged on Ground Zero during the rescue and provided support throughout the recovery phase , as well .
The impact of this singular day in US history remains incomprehensible to our local communities who lost family , friends and neighbors . Early on , we banded together to console , support and help those whose grief seemed inconsolable . We also boarded commandeered commuter and tourist ferries retrofitted to accommodate volumes of first responders pouring in to Ground Zero to assist . It didn ’ t matter how small or great our contribution we simply answered the call for help whether it was local , at Ground Zero , the debris sites or elsewhere as the need arose . And , as the days drew into months and years we continued to provide support .
The ensuing years have not softened our resolve or changed our perspective . But , what has changed is the number of those in need . As police executives , we continue to support our community members who lost loved ones on 9 / 11 . But , we are now also tasked with helping the growing number of police officers and first responders who have been afflicted with serious health issues directly related to their efforts at Ground Zero and the debris sites . And so , our duty to help continues .
As we mark the 20 th anniversary of 9 / 11 I would like to take the opportunity , on behalf of the Board of Officers of the NJSACOP , to offer our thoughts and prayers to those families who continue to grieve for those they have lost , support to our communities that have been forever changed and assistance to our sisters and brothers who by virtue of their service to duty struggle to maintain their health .
Chief John Zebrowski NJSACOP President
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