Responding to 9/11 with Former Police Officer David Berez

For the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001 I’m sharing a new interview with former police officer David Berez, who responded to the attacks and made his way to Ground Zero that day.

David takes us through his experience chronologically, from waking up to the news that America was under attack, to arriving at Ground Zero and witnessing the devastation firsthand. He recalls working alongside police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, the days of search and rescue that followed, and the extraordinary sense of unity that emerged on September 12.

The following photographs, taken at Ground Zero on the day of the attacks, were provided by David Berez himself.