Crime & Safety

BMPD Officer: Ground Zero was "Really Eerie"

Officer Tom Farrington still clearly remembers heading down to Ground Zero a few days after Sept. 11, 2001, to provide aid at the scene.

The day of the attacks, he recalled, "was a beautiful day."

"I heard it on the radio and stopped by one of the firehouses to watch it on the news," he said.

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A few days later, Briarcliff's responders were called to the scene.

"We ended up going down to Ground Zero to help with the perimeter security," he said. "I remember we had to park and walk 10 to 12 blocks. I just remember the darkness, all the buildings were dark."

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Farrington said the lack of power and feeling of uncertainty while being surrounded by buildings covered in soot "was really eerie."

"At that point, we were kind of trying to protect everybody in case there was some sort of additional attacks," he recalled. "I'll never forget it."


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