A New York City Police Officer's Perspective on 9/11

By Annie Rivera

Tony Rendo, NYPD police officer, recounts the day America was attacked by terrorists. With the five year anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks drawing near, to Tony, 9/11 should be the day to celebrate his only son's birthday, but instead this historical day will be etched in his mind forever.

Annie: Where were you on the morning of 9/11?
Tony: I just got home from work.

Annie: What was your initial reaction?
Tony: I thought it was some kind of accident, some type of attack.

Annie: Did you know anyone who perished in the attacks?
Tony: No, I didn't, thank God.

Annie: Were you called back into work?
Tony: I called the station to see if they needed us and at first they said "No," then two hours later they called everybody to come in. I drove to work into a black cloud of smoke.

Annie: How was your precinct involved?
Tony: We had to set up barriers where no one other than government officials could go in. They set up a certain perimeter. You had to get cleared by the Police Department first before you were allowed to go down there. It was a pretty expanded security area.

Annie: What were your responsibilities?
Tony: We were on tactical alert. We weren't allowed to take any days off. We worked 12 hours shifts, 7 days a week. We were on a 2, 3, 2, 3 schedule. In other words we worked 2 days then off 3 days, etc., for a month.

Annie: Do you think the terrorists have done what they set out to do to America by bringing chaos and division?
Tony: They accomplished for us to be more aware. They did not succeed in dividing our country. Their main goal was to hurt us economically. Everything is more expensive now. Government has to spend more on security.

Annie: How has this changed your outlook on foreigners/immigrants?
Tony: It's called "Racial Profiling." We're briefed on certain things. People get mad when we have to do our jobs even today. If we have to stop a foreigner they get mad. If you want to live in this country, you have to help us out. If you don't want to live in this country, then don't get mad when we have to do our jobs.

Annie: When you think of 9/11, what goes through your mind?
Tony: I think about all the people that died. How can anybody come into my country and attack us like that. It shouldn't have to be that way. You can almost compare it to Pearl Harbor or WWII. You wonder "Could the government have stopped it? Did the government allow this to happen?" There's always a reason for something. Maybe it's a wake up call for us. Hopefully we will never forget. This is how this county is. You forget what other people did.

Annie: Do you think America is much more united than before the tragedies or about the same?
Tony: It stayed about the same. Some didn't even care. They even joked and threw Osama Bin Laden jokes at us. These are people who live for free, off the government. Then there were others who were really angry, pissed off.

Annie: Do you feel people are more respectful towards the Police and Fire Departments?
Tony: Where I work, they're about the same. There are some who are a little bit more respectful - those who are a little bit more educated.

Annie: With the five year anniversary coming up, how will you tribute 9/11?
Tony: I'll try not to think about it since it's my son's birthday. For myself, I'll say a prayer and hope that we'll never be attacked again.

We Watched
By Aimee, age 12

We watched as people suffered and died,
as orphans and widows prayed and cried,
as the planes hit the towers the world held its breath,
as everyone saw the destruction and death,
the workers stopped working the teachers stopped teaching,
all the alarms sounded and the preachers kept preaching,
we could all feel the pain of the people stuck up there burning,
and when another person jumped our stomachs started churning,
everyone was on their knee's praying for the souls,
that were going up to heaven and had lost their dreams and goals,
we were losing all hope as the number of death's got higher,
and our anger kept growing in our hearts like fire,
the day September 11th would now be a very important date,
the day everyone everywhere would question their fate,
this would be the day that our courage shows bright,
for everyone around was helping with all their might,
all those people dead with not even a grave,
but the helpers still worked with the hope that another they might save,
after all the destruction was done all we could do is give,
so we waited in lines miles long to give blood so someone might live,
now where the twin towers had once stood is a pile of ash,
and everyone alive will always remember the day of this terrible crash,
that took the lives of so many that didn't want to die,
this day when smoke and ash filled the New York sky,
this is our country, the land of the brave and free,
this is a country that everyone should see,
with our colors red, white and blue,
and forever and ever we will shine through.
This is our country and it is AMERICA!

Posted: 08/22/06
Media: Cypress Chronicle & CyChron.com