THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ Memorandum

TO: Chief Joseph Morris

FROM: Anthony Fitzgerald
DATE: March 25, 2002
SUBJECT: EVENT OF 9/11

COPY: file

On the morning of September 11, 2001, my assignment was, Detective Sergeant assigned to
LaGuardia Airport. After the LaGuardia command had been notified that a plane had struck one
of the World Trade Center towers, you, as Commanding Officer of LaGuardia Airport, ordered a
facility mobilization response to the WTC.

I was supervising three (3) detectives working that tour, Det's James Nachstein, George Dorner
and Jose Molina. I instructed all three detectives to gather as much crime scene equipment as
possible and be ready to respond quickly, as one facility, with uniform personnel form LGA. I
then contacted 3x11 Det. John Dotzler and instructed him to respond ASAP to work for coverage
at LGA.

Once at the WTC complex, we parked directly across from the Barkley Street entrance to the
WTC. We started walking down Barkley Street when someone yelled that the Port Authority
Police command post was located on West Street near the foot bridge. Heading down Barkley
Street we meet Det's from other commands (D/Sgt Leather & D/Sgt Zika). I also remember
uniform personnel exiting a van and I instructed them to follow us to the command post on West
Street.

Once at the command post on West Street, looking up, it was clear to see that the fire in tower
one was fully involved and there were people at the windows above the floors that were on fire.
At the command post were approximately 30-40 PAPD uniform and detective personnel. I
remember speaking with Sgt Flynn, we started instructing all personnel to line up so we could
account for all personnel at the scene and wait for further instructing from Inspector Morris. As I
started writing the names of the personnel at the scene I heard a loud explosion type sound.
Looking up at the tower, people were jumping from the tower and the explosion type sound were
their bodies hitting the pavement below. I remember seeing at least 10 people jump from the
tower.

Suddenly I heard I roar type sound and saw, what I thought was, a piece of tower two falling to
the ground (it was tower two collapsing). We all started fleeing north on West Street from the
falling debris. I remember stopping when I noticed that Officer John LaSala, from LGA, was
having difficultly breathing. I assisted EMS in placing him in the back of an ambulance. I
remember that Officer LaSala was covered with debris.
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While further north on West Street (cross street unknown) I spoke with Det. James Nachstein and
Officer John Curnyn and instructed them and other civilians to proceed further north on West
Street, as I feared that if tower one fell, we were not a safe distance away from falling debris. We
retreated several blocks, and then tower one fell.

Once back at the College Gym (temporary command post), I started to account for the personnel
that I had listed on my note pad from earlier. I started asking other supervisors and personnel if
they had seen the members that I had listed or if they had personnel unaccounted for. I remember
Lt. Stafford and Lt. Leather giving me names of several members from the PATH command that
were unaccounted for. After speaking with as many supervisors as I could find, my list had
approximately 32 names of members unaccounted for. I took the names to the command post and
spoke with Chief William Hall and gave him the list of names that I had.

We got word that Officer George Howard from JFK had been killed, Inspector Morris instructed
myself and the LaGuardia Detectives to respond to Pier 92 and set up a temporary morgue. We
responded to Pier 92 and were told that the NYC Medical Examiner Office would be handling all
victims. We responded to the ME's Office and spoke with the assistant ME. I told him we needed
space to set up a command post and he provided an area for us to work. I had the detectives set
up a temporary command post and make proper notifications to the Central Police Desk. That
was my assignment for the next several days.

Respectfully submitted for your information and review

**
Anthony Fitzgeraid
Police Lieutenant

I/

PORT AUTHORITY POLICE

Pride Service Distinction