When the towers fell on September 11, a cadre of heroic police officers surged into the chaos, putting themselves on the line to rescue strangers. Their bravery still echoes today, reminding us what true courage looks like.
Celebrating Heroic Police Sacrifices
10 Officer James Leahy
James Leahy was on duty with the NYPD when the towers were struck. He grew up after his father was murdered when James was just 13, forcing him to become the family’s pillar. A devoted husband and father, he coached his kids’ football teams and never missed a little‑league game. At 9:35 a.m. that morning, his wife received a voicemail in which he reassured her he was safe inside the building. Though he didn’t have to be there, witnesses saw him hauling oxygen tanks into the wreckage. Later‑found recordings captured his final words to a partner: there were more people upstairs, and he was heading up to help them.
9 Officer Ramon Suarez
Ramon Suarez was a fitness fanatic who also coached his daughter’s elementary track squad. When the alarms sounded, he commandeered a taxi and raced to Ground Zero. A newspaper photo captured him outside the World Trade Center, comforting a distraught woman. After the snap, he sprinted back into the second tower—just before it collapsed—demonstrating the sheer resolve of a heroic police officer.
8 Officer James Nelson
James Nelson lived by the motto, “When I go out of this world, I want to know I made a difference.” He entered the Port Authority Police Academy in 1984 and later helped with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing rescue. On 9/11, he refused to abandon the 27th‑floor occupants and was killed while evacuating them, embodying the selflessness of heroic police service.
7 Officer John W Perry
John W. Perry wasn’t your run‑of‑the‑mill cop. Fluent in four languages and learning a fifth, he ran marathons and even appeared as an extra in Woody Allen films. On the fateful morning, he was finalizing retirement paperwork to become a medical‑malpractice lawyer. The attacks spurred him to sprint several blocks to the World Trade Center. Before plunging into the building, he aided a fainting woman. The last sight of him was a determined stride into the south tower, which then collapsed.
6 Officer Moira Smith
Moira Smith holds the solemn distinction of being the first female officer to die in the 9/11 attacks. She was battling inside the second tower when it fell, rescuing several people and earning credit for countless lives saved. Earlier, she had been pivotal in the 1991 Union Square subway crash response and received a distinguished duty medal for those heroic deeds.
5 Officer Thomas Jurgens
Thomas Jurgens arrived at the first tower with a medic’s background from his Army days and a stint at the New York State Office of the Courts. As the building’s structural integrity waned, he was warned to evacuate. Yet his final radio transmission was, “There are people here who need our help,” epitomizing the dedication of heroic police personnel.
4 Captain Kathy Mazza
Kathy Mazza broke barriers as the first female commanding officer at the Port Authority Police Academy. At Ground Zero, she spotted a bottleneck at the north tower’s revolving doors, where panic was stalling exits. She drew her weapon, shattered the glass, and cleared a path for dozens to escape. Her last known moment was carrying a woman down the steps alongside Lt. Robert Cirri, just before the tower collapsed. Mayor Rudy Giuliani praised her as a true American hero.
3 Officer Kenneth Tietjen
As a child, Kenneth Tietjen feared police cars and fire trucks—ironically the very vehicles he’d later ride daily. On 9/11, he seized a taxi and raced to Ground Zero, storming the north tower and rescuing several trapped civilians. Emerging with his partner, they discovered only one respirator remained. With a grin, Tietjen quipped, “Seniority rules,” snatched the respirator, and rushed back inside—just moments before the tower fell.
2 Officer Richard Guadagno
Richard Guadagno was on a vacation return flight aboard United Flight 93 when it was hijacked. Though details remain murky, strong evidence suggests he joined fellow passengers in a courageous attempt to retake the aircraft, ultimately causing the plane to crash in Pennsylvania instead of its intended target.
1 Officer Dominick Pezzulo
Dominick Pezzulo was stationed at a New York bus terminal when the 9/11 alarms rang. He and four fellow officers commandeered a bus and raced to the disaster site. Inside the wreckage, a fellow officer became trapped beneath a massive concrete slab. Pezzulo worked tirelessly in the cramped space to free him. When the second tower’s collapse shifted debris, Pezzulo himself became pinned under a concrete wall. Mortally wounded, he fired his service revolver in a desperate bid to signal rescuers. His final words to fellow officer Will Jimeno were, “Willie, don’t forget. I died trying to save you guys.” Pezzulo’s bravery was later immortalized in Oliver Stone’s film “World Trade Center.”