I was a Port Authority employee from July 1971 until January 2005. I started out in the clerical field and in January of 1985, I joined the Port Authority Police Department.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, I reported for duty at the Port Authority Police Academy located in the PATC in Jersey City. A beautiful morning!
We were notified of a plane hitting the WTC and immediately responded under the direction of Captain Kathy Mazza and Lieutenant Bob Cirri. The entire Police Academy staff responded including myself, Sergeants Krueger and Frederick, Police Officers Richie Rodriguez, Jimmy Nelson, Jimmy Parham, Stephen Huczko (assigned to Newark Airport but was at the Academy for an interview), Mike Edwards, Eugene Fasano and others. Upon arrival at the WTC, we encountered Chief Romito, who led us into the WTC through the garage entrance and then into #1 WTC. We proceeded up #1 stopping at different floors to make sure everyone was evacuated.
People were coming down the stairs in a very orderly manner. At approximately the 25-27 floor, #2 came down and the building shook; I thought #1 was coming down, too. A MAYDAY came over the radio and, after another flight or two, we started our descent. When I got to the concourse level, I exited through a broken window and started up West Street. There I met other Port Authority Officers and FDNY members. When #1 started to come down, we ran up West Street. I’m not sure how long it was before I arrived at the Command Center but when I did I was informed that I was on the list of missing members of the force.
I informed the Sergeant, assigned to the Command Center, who I had entered the building with and that I couldn’t find them. I never saw Chief Romito, Captain Mazza, Lieutenant Cirri, Officers Rodriguez, Nelson, Parham or Huczko again.
The Port Authority never stopped providing for all employees. We never missed a pay check. They relocated employees from the WTC to other facilities. In a moment of immense crisis, true leadership and humanity were displayed. Thank You for showing such extraordinary empathy and resilience. Thank You for providing the necessary medical and psychological help needed. With the dedication of the employees of the Port Authority, they were able to provide steadfast support to all the affected families of those we lost that day, those who responded and to restore necessary services to the public.
Never Forget!
Sharon A. Miller
