102°F
weather icon Clear

9/11 Memory: Selfless actions inspired career

On Sept. 11, 2001, at about 5:45 a.m., I was 22 years old and getting ready to go to my scheduled shift at my retail job. After a few moments of getting up, my roommate, who was also getting ready for work, came knocking on my bedroom door in a panic and said, “Something bad is happening in New York.”

My roommate knew that most of my family is originally from New York and that I still had a lot of family there. I remember turning on my TV and seeing the news coverage of the North Tower on fire, shortly after which I saw Flight 175 strike the South Tower live.

I remember immediately trying to call family back East, as I knew that some of them worked in the city, but the phone lines were all busy. Not knowing what else to do, I went to my retail job, huddled with my co-workers around a television in an empty store watching the events of 9/11 continue to unfold.

Despite all the horrible things that happened, I saw something that changed my life forever. I saw first responders continually and selflessly running toward danger to fulfill their oath to help, protect and save people. They didn’t care where you were from or what your beliefs were. They were there to help — and I knew then and there that I wanted to be part of that community of Americans.

Shortly thereafter, I began studying and training, followed by testing for both fire and police departments alike. Eventually, I entered a police academy, where I graduated as valedictorian in 2005 and have been serving ever since.

In my desk, I still have the original Newsweek and Time magazines that hit the newsstands in the days following Sept. 11, 2001, as a visual reminder as to why I chose this profession and to never forget to pay respect those 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters, 37 New York Port Authority police officers and 23 New York Police Department officers who gave all.

Brett Wibrew is a detective with the Boulder City Police Department.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Huge crowd turns out to honor Patton

It was brought up during Saturday’s unveiling of the Shane Patton Memorial Monument as to why Shane’s statue stands 11 feet tall.

Disaster in China affects Damboree fireworks show

As the city prepares for Damboree, one of our biggest celebrations of the year, a tragedy in China is having an impact on the annual fireworks show.

City Celebrates First Responders

Photos courtesy City of Boulder City

Toll Brothers gets split decision

The development of the area near Boulder Creek Golf Course known as Tract 350 (the sale of which is slated to pay for the majority of the planned replacement for the aging municipal pool) may have hit a snag last week as the planning commission voted 5-1 to deny the developers’ request to build houses closer to the street than is allowed under current law.

Council gives nod to 185 new hangars

There is at least one part of Boulder City that is set to see growth in the coming years. A lot of growth.

Boulder City ready to celebrate America

Boulder City resident James Cracolici may have put it best when he called the annual July 4 Damboree, “The crown jewel of all events held in Boulder City.”

BC can ban backyard breeders

Although there is nothing on any city agenda yet, the resolution of the issue of whether pet breeding will be allowed in Boulder City took a huge step forward last week as Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford released an official opinion on the intent and limitations of state law that had been requested by city staff last year.