One local remembers September 11th

For one Leland police officer, September 11th hits especially close to home. In 2001, Robert Ernest was a New York City police officer. Officer Ernest shared his story of that fateful day with WWAY.

From 1993 to 2003 Corporal Robert Ernest served New York City as a member of the NYPD. Tuesday, September 11, 2001 was like any other day – then terrorists attacked. Seven years later, he remembers every detail.

“It was like a snow fall in the winter because of all the ash was piled 2, 3, 4 inches on the ground so everything as we got closer was so quiet, which was eerie,” said Ernest.

His assignment that day was to secure Building 7 near the two World Trade towers that had already fallen.

Ernest said, “It actually did look like to a lot of us that we were walking into a hell zone. We got about a block from Building 7 when we stopped in our tracks because at that time all the windows were blowing out of Building 7 and about 2 second after that it started to fall down in front of us.”

Officer Ernest went on to say, “We ran back to avoid all the debris the smoke and the ash and it was at that point we were told to do perimeter security around the trade center.”

He lost a friend and fellow officer that day. A day he will never forget.

“It’s very important that people don’t forget that day the officers are out there and they’re the front line of defense for this country,” Ernest said.

Corporal Ernest also hopes September 11, 2001 made everyone more aware of their surroundings and of suspicious activity. He said the community plays a key role in protecting our country by paying attention and warning authorities of possible dangers, crimes, and attacks.