Ep. 85 - For this special episode marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, you will hear excerpts from four prior episodes of On Being a Police Officer in which I interviewed NYPD officers who responded to Ground Zero on 9/11. We talk about that tragic day, how it unfolded for them. That creeping realization we all had that this was terrorism. And then how each of them, without hesitation, like all first responders, went directly there facing the terror and the chaos everyone else was so desperately trying to escape.

As you will hear, the memories, the emotions, the despair at finding no survivors and losing fellow first responders remain fresh in their hearts and minds. We also talk about the hospitals at the ready for victims – victims who never came; the signs of the missing posted throughout the city; police and fire from around the country coming to help; citizens holding signs of thanks as our first responders drove down the West Side Highway; and stories of people – including criminals – bringing flowers and cards to the precincts.

These excerpts are from interviews I did over the years with:

LAPD/NYPD Officer Knocko Nolan (Ret.)

NYPD Cold Case Detective Jason Palamara (Ret.)

NYPD Homicide Detective /ATF Special Agent Pete Forcelli (Ret.)

NYPD Homicide Detective Tom Smith (Ret.)

I know we are all feeling the pain that anniversaries bring. 9/11 happened to all of us. So many lives were lost. So many families and loved ones left broken and grieving—not just in New York City, but everywhere.

For me, however, my experience was in New York City where I was living at the time. The bravery of our first responders was beyond measure. The gratitude we felt was overwhelming. And yet most of us never got to thank any of them. It was a helpless feeling.

One of the unexpected gifts of doing this podcast has been the opportunity to do just that, to thank these NYPD officers for their bravery, commitment and sacrifice on that day and in the weeks and months that followed. And to share their stories for all to hear.

Thank you Knocko, Jason, Pete and Tom. Thank you, NYPD and FDNY.

Original full interviews:

Ep. 45 Meet NYPD’s and LAPD’s Knocko Nolan

Ep. 50 - NYPD Cold Case Det. Jason Palamara (Ret.) - responding to 9/11, solving cold cases, supporting LEOs and Veterans as a crisis counselor.

Ep. 59 ATF Agent Pete Forcelli (ret) and NYPD Homicide Detective (ret) on turning whistleblower on the Operation Fast and Furious scandal and his book The Deadly Path.

Ep. 67 – NYPD Det. Tom Smith on 9/11, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Rescuing an American Hostage in Afghanistan, Stopping a School Shooter – Part Two

Thank you for listening to On Being a Police Officer. YOU are what keeps me going.

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Abby@Ellsworthproductions.com

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©Abby Ellsworth. All booking, interviews, editing, and production by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org

Ep. 84 - Former LAPD Officer Kristina Ripatti joined LAPD in 1996 and later served on LAPD’s CRASH Gang Unit assigned to the Rollin’ 30s Harlem Crips. Her patrol partner and gang unit partner was LAPD Det. Tim Pearce who later became her life partner when they got married.

Their lives would change forever on June 3, 2006, when an Officer Down call came out. That officer was Kristina. While in a foot pursuit with a subject, that subject shot Kristina in her armpit severing her spine and instantly paralyzing her. The subject continued shooting Kristina once she was down until her partner Officer Joe Meyer could neutralize him. Tim responded to the Officer Down call initially not knowing it was Kristina. He arrived on scene to find her near death. In fact, she lost so much blood, she was later diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury after years of not having a medical explanation for what she was experiencing mentally and emotionally.

As I say in the episode, I know Kristina’s story through my interview with Tim in Episode 78 during which he lovingly tells the story of their life together, the impact of this tragedy and Kristina’s courage and grit in getting through all of it.

Hearing Tim tell their story inspired me to want to hear Kristina’s story from Kristina. Tim connected us and the result is this episode.

We do go through the life-altering events of June 3rd, what she remembers, what she experienced. It is a raw and painful account, and I thank Kristina for sharing it.

But as I say to her, it’s not her whole story. Those who know Kristina – likely some of you listening to this episode – know her to have been a hard-charging officer both fearless and tenacious. Or to use Tim’s words, “She’s like a pit bull. She just won’t let go.” Her skill was obvious to all starting as far back as the Academy. Kristina shares some funny stories from those early days as well as some hair-raising accounts from patrol and the gang unit including the near-fatal shooting she and Tim were in and the devastating line of duty death of Gang Officer Phil Cuesta.

Kristina has earned her Master’s in social work and is a therapist specializing in trauma. She and Tim are no longer married but remain friends and are working together as part of a documentary project called “Nothing to See Here: Watts.” It’s a unique documentary made by rival gang members, police, victims of violence all from Watts in LA.

Thank you, Kristina, for your service as a police officer and for allowing me to tell your story.

Officer Filberto Cuesta

E.O.W. Sunday, August 9, 1998

You are not forgotten. Thank you for your service.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/15131-police-officer-ii-filberto-henry-cuesta-jr

“Nothing to See Here: Watts”

https://nothingtoseeheremovie.com/

My interview with Tim:

Ep. 78 - LAPD Gang Det. Tim Pearce on his 18-year LE Career and the “Officer Needs Help” Call That Changed Everything.

Thanks for listening to On Being a Police Officer. YOU are what keeps me going.

Find me on my social or email me your thoughts:

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Abby@Ellsworthproductions.com

www.onbeingapoliceofficer.com

©Abby Ellsworth. All booking, interviews, editing, and production by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org