The morning of September 11, 2001 began like any other workday for Keith Taylor, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration, who at the time was a New York Police Department (NYPD) Missing Persons Detective Sergeant. “I remember it was a beautiful day, the sky was clear, the weather was great. I reported to work at One Police Plaza, not too far from the World Trade Center, when word got out that there was a plane crash,” recalls Taylor. “I looked out the window and saw what appeared to be plumes of smoke coming from the top of the North Tower. I thought it was a small plane that had crashed into the building, but just as we were preparing to get over there, the second plane hit. Once we saw the second plane hit, we knew it was a deliberate act of terrorism.”

“Once we saw the second plane hit, we knew it was a deliberate act of terrorism.” —Keith Taylor

Surviving the Towers Collapse
Taking two of his detectives with him to the World Trade Center site, Taylor walked down to West and Vesey Street where there was a triage area being set up. His team was expected to help account for the missing and take care of the injured as they made their way out of the burning buildings. “When we got there, we saw a lot of debris on the ground. We saw the bodies. People were jumping out of windows to their death,” he sadly remembers. “Then, within minutes of us getting there, the first tower came down.”

“When we got there, we saw a lot of debris on the ground. We saw the bodies. People were jumping out of windows to their death. Then, within minutes of us getting there, the first tower came down.” —Keith Taylor

As the South Tower collapsed, Taylor and his two detectives were enveloped in a cloud of smoke, debris, and dust. Amidst the chaos, he lost track of his detectives. “Initially I felt panic and fear, thinking that we were going to die. Then began the frantic search for my two detectives. I found one of them and we were able to enter a business front, wash our eyes out, and get ourselves together. That’s when the second tower came down. Again, people began to run. There was a tornado of debris and smoke going through the street, going past the windows of this place we were in.” Once the wave of debris and dust settled, Taylor and his detective made their way back to One Police Plaza where they waited for hours for news about their missing colleague. “Then she walked in,” says Taylor with a smile, reliving the moment his missing detective reappeared. “When I saw her, emotionally, I became a mess. Not just because of this life-threatening incident we had just been through, but because I thought I had lost one of my subordinates.”

Processing the Tragedy
With his missing detective now found, Taylor and the Missing Persons Squad began working from the New York Medical Examiner’s Office, where they had the unenviable tasks of accounting for the missing and the victims who perished at the World Trade Center. “It was at the Medical Examiner’s Office where we would process the remains that were recovered from the site. We did a ceremony for each person. We felt compelled to honor them in some small way. If we couldn’t identify the victim, we would preserve their remains in the hopes that DNA technology could catch up one day and help identify them,” says Taylor. “We never thought about throwing in the towel. We wanted to bring solace to the families of those victims.”

Thinking back on 9/11 and the days that followed, there are two things that have left a deep and lasting impression on Taylor. “Seeing innocent victims fall to their death is etched in my brain,” he shares. “But also, what has stood with me through the years is the kindness and the willingness to help. To see people from different walks of life, work together and focus on the recovery effort was something I was so grateful for. Seeing all the individuals who wanted to help us, the entire country had our back. Driving down the highway and seeing folks on the side of the road with signs and posters showing support for firefighters, EMS, police, and everyone in New York City; getting cards from children who wished us well in our efforts to rescue and then recover the victims. The outpouring of love and support from across the country and around the world was just so incredible to see and experience. It was very humbling.”

“It’s important to remember the sacrifices made on 9/11 and to remember the bravery of the individuals who lost their lives trying to help others.” —Keith Taylor

Passing on the Lessons
For the students in his class who will go on to work in law enforcement, emergency services, or become firefighters, Taylor wants them to learn not only from the curriculum he’s teaching in the classroom, but also from his lived experiences. “I talk about my 23 years in the NYPD, my time in the Emergency Services Unit, and in the Department of Corrections. I talk about what I saw on 9/11 and how it changed the course of my life. I really want to make certain that my students understand the rewards and challenges of the police profession, as well as the different perspectives,” he says. “Teaching and sharing those stories is about having an impact that’s meaningful for the student and gives them the information they need to make the best decisions when they’re out in the field doing their job.”

Taylor also hopes that students at John Jay—many of whom weren’t even born when the tragedy occurred—remember 9/11 and find ways to honor the fallen heroes. “It’s important to remember the sacrifices made on 9/11 and to remember the bravery of the individuals who lost their lives trying to help others—civilians, first responders, and a number of unknown people who helped save lives that day,” he says. “They may not have gotten their names in the paper, but they were there, and should be remembered.”

“Like the terrorist attacks on 9/11, this pandemic has taken a lot of lives, and we’re still losing loved ones.” —Keith Taylor

Connecting the Past with Today
After further reflection, Taylor can see connections between 9/11 and the current Covid-19 pandemic, with common themes of resiliency, community, and the need for kindness coming into play. “Like the terrorist attacks on 9/11, this pandemic has taken a lot of lives, and we’re still losing loved ones. We have to make sure that we look out for each other, that we protect each other. Our actions and behavior don’t just affect our well-being; they also impact the well-being of our children, our neighbors, and our coworkers,” says Taylor. “This idea that an incident like 9/11 is a singular thing is not correct—we can experience mass casualty incidents in a variety of ways, from man-made terrorism to natural disasters. But how we respond to those tragedies, how we protect each other and lift each other up amid those challenging and tragic moments, makes all the difference in the world.”