On September 11, 2001 PO Paul Jurgens, along with countless others, made the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade center. He was on his way from JFK airport to New Jersey for a meeting with the Police Academy Commanding Officer. Upon hearing of the events transpiring at the WTC, Paul redirected there, putting his life before others.
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of Paul Jurgens. I met Paul when I was first assigned to JFK in 1986. For the last 2 years, he was assigned with me at the Police Academy Rescue Training Center (Fire School). He was always someone that I felt I could ask questions of, if ever the need arose. This was true when I was a rookie up until his last day in the office.
Paul went about his job in a quiet dignified manner, unless he was pulling one of his covert practical jokes such as; disconnecting your phone receiver line and then calling you from another phone. Then watching you scramble while you tried to reconnect it so the person on the other end of the line could here you. One of his more famous pranks was dressing up a doll in a white dress on the day of his infant daughters christening. Then carrying the doll into the backyard, only to trip and drop the “baby” in the pool in front of all of his relatives. Paul had a way of sitting quietly in a room, listening to others and at just the right moment, saying the most appropriate, hilarious one-liner out of nowhere.
Paul never hesitated to get involved, if he felt someone needed his help. In 1992, TWA flight 843 crashed on takeoff at JFK. Paul was one of the first Officers on the scene. He was able to gain access to the burning fuselage by climbing up one of the evacuation slides to verify that all 292 on board were safely off of the aircraft.
Paul has always put others before himself both professionally and personally. There is no doubt in my mind that there are people who are home with their loved ones on this day because of the actions of Paul Jurgens on September 11, 2001. He will truly be always honored and never forgotten!
Officer Name: Police Officer Paul Jurgens
Officer City: Port Authority Police of NY & NJ
End of Watch: 09/11/01
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