9-11 Memorial Page
Seventy officers from a total of seven local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed two of four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City on the morning of September 11, 2001. After the impact of the first plane, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personal rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid there fellow New Yorkers and to lead them to safety. It is estimated that because of their work 25,000 people were saved.
As the evacuation continued the first tower unexpectedly, and without, warning collapsed due to the impact and ensuing fire. A short time later the second tower collapsed. 70 law enforcement officers, 343 New York City firefighters, 1 Jersey City, New Jersey, firefighter and over 6,000 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center. All but one of the law enforcement officers were killed as a result of the building collapse.
In addition, a Federal Wildlife Officer was on the third hijacked plane which crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to retake control of the plane. It is assumed this officer assisted in the attempt to retake control of the plane.
The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel.
The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which was based in Afghanistan.
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