| RUTHERFORD
The terrorist attack that took place in the World Trade Center last week has changed our world forever. According to Mayor Bernadette P. McPherson, “Many of residents of Rutherford worked in the Twin Towers. Information available at this time show two residents, John Crowe and Police Officer Maurice Barry of the Port Authority Police Department, and three former residents, Tim Finnerty, John Griffin and Ronnie Breitweiser, among those missing. Naomi Yajima, who was listed among the missing was later found in another area of the city. Reports from the Board of Education and Saint Mary Elementary and High School show that all parents of school age children returned home safely.”
The Rutherford Police Department activated their specially trained officers to the Bergen County Rapid Deployment Force. They were utilized in strategic locations throughout the area. An urgent call for help came from the Port Authority Police Department. More officers than we could send volunteered to respond. A team of Rutherford Police Officers escorted the transport of medical supplies into New York City from a staging area in the Meadowlands. Those same officers later assisted the FBI and the East Rutherford Police Department in an incident involving a suspicious van near Route 3, which required the highway to be closed for eight hours.
To those residents most affected by the tragedy the Rutherford Police Department was made available to transport family members in and out of the city in efforts to find their loved ones. Councilmember Bruce Bartlett, Police Liaison, said, “I wish to thank the members of the Rutherford Police Department who served in both the Rapid Deployment Force and other officers who volunteered for this hazardous duty and carried it out with a great deal of sensitivity and compassion.”The Rutherford Ambulance Corps responded to the staging area at Liberty State Park and provided emergency medical services to victims of the tragedy. Other members stood by at the Ambulance Corps Headquarters prepared to assist.
Councilmember Denise Ross, Fire Department Liaison, stated, “That morning all available members of the Rutherford Fire Department responded to quarters. They checked their equipment and loaded extra supplies onto the apparatus to ensure that all was in readiness for any mutual aid emergency response. Rutherford Firefighters were called upon to collect and fill all available air bottles from surrounding communities with the Borough's Special Services Unit. This morning the Rescue was deployed with Rutherford firefighters to Staten Island. They were given the grim task of opening up vehicles that had been crushed in the collapse and towed from the crash site to aid in identifying owners of the vehicles and to recover personal effect.
Many residents contacted me for information on how they could help. Our employees in the Clerk's Office updated our web-site and community bulletin board with all available information on blood donation and collections for the victims. A drive was organized for emergency service relief. Fliers to publicize it were distributed by the Rutherford Junior Football League and the Elks Club. Many other Rutherford community service organizations volunteered to help. Mayor McPherson said, “There is no doubt that our world has changed irrevocably since last week. But something has not. What remains constant is the care and concern of our community.”
176 PARK AVENUE RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY 07070
Telephone: (201) 460-3022 --- Fax: (201) 460-3003
Dated: September 17, 2001
Contact: Mayor Bernadette McPherson (460-3022)
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