Lingering Regrets and Lasting Changes for Policing Post-9/11

On September 11, 2001, the New York City Police Department lost 23 officers and the Port Authority Police lost 37 officers.

The fact is often overshadowed by the fact that 343 NYFD firefighters lost their lives in the towers that day. Still, police departments throughout the region — and the nation — were called to duty that day and were particularly impacted by the tragedy inflicted on their comrades.

Maplewood Chief of Police Robert Cimino was chief on September 11, 2001 as he is today in Maplewood, N.J.

Cimino said that 9/11 has had a lasting impact on his life in many ways. "It changed the law enforcement focus in the town and the nation." Issues such as interoperability of law enforcement agencies and backup communications are now a greater priority.

A lingering regret from 9/11 for Cimino is the fact that he could not permit his officers to head for Ground Zero because they were needed to provide protection in Maplewood, Essex County and New Jersey — should any further attacks strike closer to home. "Our officers felt they were left out. It's difficult for them to feel that they had not provided assistance. But we did provide coverage to Maplewood, a sense of security."

Throughout the day on 9/11, Maplewood police worked to inspect the train station, utilities in town and other vulnerable assets. They also helped in an orderly transfer of children to parents as schools were dismissed. And — along with Maplewood fire and emergency personnel — they assisted Maplewood residents returning from Manhattan as they disembarked at the train station.

Cimino had been chief for just over a year when that that "crystal clear day" dawned. Cimino remembers noting the beauty of the weather as he walked into headquarters that day ("We were in the old building then," he remembers). "We always tried to have a news channel at the desk." As preliminary reports came in, "my assumption was that it was a single engine piper cub or a medical emergency of the pilot's."

While Cimino said that the police were "amazed and concerned" by the event, they continued regular patrol operations. By the time the second jet hit the south tower, the realization had dawned that this was an extraordinary event. Cimino and his officers immediately started watching emergency communication from the state police "to see what the response would be. There then started to be communication between myself, the fire chief and the business administrator [at that time Michelle Meade]. We started preliminary inspections of the train station."

A meeting was called of the local emergency planning committee which included Cimino, Meade, the fire chief, a Board of Education representative and the health officer. "Throughout the day, we tried to maintain communication with the town and monitor communication from the state police." It seems straightforward but Cimino said it was difficult: "There was a lot of emotion and a desire to do more."

"We heard of bottlenecks of traffic and emergency assistance being sent to NYC."

But, Cimino said, "There is an organizational mechanism for asssistance on the county and state level — all through the emergency system. We were not called upon."

"I think many agencies that decided to do that had good intentions. We had many who wanted to go into the city. I said, 'No.' At times, I regret that, not because there wasn't enough help in the city. There was. It becomes a management issue."

"It's a hard thing to square," said Cimino, "the desire to help balanced with the need to observe the chain of command."

He adds, "I remembered training models of mass casualties that suffered from lack of management."

Still, Cimino feels for his men who wanted to lend a hand at Ground Zero.

Besides working over several hours to dismiss schools in an orderly fashion and deliver children to caregivers, the police also worked with the fire department to meet commuters at the train station and get those covered with dust and soot washed down. This is something that Cimino says is "burned into memory."

"There were so many unknowns — we didn't know if there would be further attacks — on malls, PSE&G, NJ Transit. They were all given extra consideration."

Cimino said the first 24 hours were the most uncertain and that the emergency planning committee continued to meet for days. There was also communication with South Orange. On the street level, the job changed for patrolmen: Cimino said that police went from responding to a burglary or an motor vehicle accident to focusing on the dangers of special activities around the Village, buses, trains and tractor trailers.

"It changed the law enforcement focus in the town and in the nation."

Long-term, Cimino said that law enforcement agencies now have greater interoperability and better back-up communications. "We learned later that emergency service personnel communication equipment [at the World Trade Center] wasn't working properly."

Cimino assured Maplewood residents that they were — and are — safe. "We have the state police radio system. We have multiple radio channels. We were fortunate that we had many of the backup equipment needed. But as we move forward with any equipment decisions we are mindful."

"If the Mapelwood's system goes down we have alternative systems and equipment." In addition, said Cimino, "We've been fortunate to have good leadership in Maplewood and good department heads."

Plus — "There's a lot of guidance from state and federal agencies on emergency plans, but they have to be maintained, reviewed and practiced, and we try to do that. It shows itself in the smaller incidents."

Cimino said that the police and town leaders perform "tabletop exercises" regularly — a drill of emergency response to catastophic incidents. "You put personnel in a room and you walk through what the process would be in a timeline." Scenarios have included a plane crash in Memorial Park." The group considers factors such as: Are all the contact numbers for necessary agencies valid? Where is the First Aid Squad on a Thursday morning at 10 a.m.? Can the Board of Education open a school to aid? Where do you get water if the supply line is corrupted?

"It's a wake-up call," said Cimino.

These and other practical exercises "allow the officers to have the confidence to deal" with emergencies — as evidenced during the recent response to Hurricane Irene.

On 9/11, Cimino was out throughout the day at all locations — at the schools, the train station and at police headquarters. He was also prepping for meetings every few hours.

"It was the worst thing we've had to deal with in my law enforcement career."

Despite the fact that the attack took place in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., Cimino said, "We had to focus on what we had the ability to affect."

Cimino did say that one off-duty officer, Frank Donlon, did go to Ground Zero during the first few days after 9/11. He did it without authorization but "his heart was in the right place."

"My reason not to send in officers was that if officers started to do that and something happened in Maplewood, it would deplete our resources and become a barrier to recall."

"There was anger, helplessness and sadness," said Cimino, "I was feeling that from the officers but it was important for them to provide services for Maplewood." Still it was difficult not to go — "everyone in this area has a connection with Ground Zero."