Latest news with #PAPD
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Port Authority police officer who survived 9/11 WTC collapse pins shield on grandson
After the World Trade Center's South Tower came crashing down around his ears on 9/11, trapping him under the rubble for several hours, retired Port Authority Police Department Sgt. Conrad Krueger never returned to Ground Zero or the 9/11 Memorial & Museum — until Wednesday. There, by the 9/11 Memorial reflecting pools, where the names of the 37 Port Authority police officers who died at the site are etched in marble for eternity, he pinned his shield on his grandson Sean, who is poised to graduate the PAPD's academy Friday. 'I couldn't bring myself to come back. Too many memories,' Krueger, 77, told the Daily News, following the wreath-laying ceremony in lower Manhattan at the close of the PAPD's Shield and ID Day. 'But I was so proud of my grandson, I had to come. For him to follow in my footsteps is a great honor.' During the ceremony, Sean Krueger, 26, was given the shield number of his 'Pop Pop' — 729 — which he hopes to honor as he begins his new career. 'This department is very family-oriented, and I grew up in a household where family was very important,' the young cop said. 'Giving people that kind of compassion and kindness, that's what he did. And that's what I want to do.' Ever since he was little, Sean's Pop Pop has always been one of his heroes, the young cop said. 'I've always looked up to my grandfather, not just for what he did on Sept. 11, but for how he's carried that experience with strength and humility every day since,' he said. 'Wearing his shield doesn't just connect me to him. It connects me to a legacy of sacrifice, resilience and service.' Sgt. Krueger was working at the Port Authority Police Academy on 9/11 when word spread that jumbo jets had slammed into the Twin Towers. He helped escort dozens of people from the South Tower in the ensuing chaos before there was 'a massive explosion' and 'everything started coming down on top of us,' he wrote in November 2001 as he requested commendations for several of his fallen colleagues. He was trapped in the dark, but was able to stand. He wandered around in the pitch blackness until he and a few other officers found a way out on the tower's West St. side. All those memories came flooding back when he looked over the memorial on Wednesday. 'Ten of us went over to the Trade Center, and only five of us got out,' he recalled. 'We lost half of the academy.' Of the 37 PAPD officers in all who died that grim day, Krueger recalled, 'I knew 90% of them personally.' 'It's still hard for me to be here,' he reflected. 'I'm still smelling it. It's hard to explain. The memories just come back. But to see my grandson take up the shield, and to hand him mine, right here where so many of my brothers and sisters are memorialized, is an experience beyond words.' Sean will be joining a team of 71 freshly minted police officers who will be assigned to the many airports, bus terminals, PATH trains, bridges and tunnels run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The department's 123rd class will graduate Friday at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, N.J. The current graduating class was put together following one of the agency's most intensive outreach programs to identify the most highly qualified recruits in the region. The extremely diverse group speaks nine different languages and a quarter of the recruits are women, a higher number than any previous class, agency officials said. Half the class join the PAPD with prior law enforcement experience and 13% of the recruits are military veterans. Among the recruits is Port Authority Police Officer Keith Walcott Jr., the son of retired PAPD Deputy Chief Keith Walcott, who responded to both 9/11 and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. For former Chief Walcott, 69, pinning his badge number — 1381 — on his son's chest was the best Father's Day present he could ever receive. 'It's awesome, one of the greatest gifts someone could ever give me,' he said. 'It's one of the greatest things that could happen to a father, to have his son follow in his footsteps.' Police Officer Walcott, 30, said he's wanted to emulate his dad for as long as he can remember. 'Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be exactly him,' the young cop said, admitting that he was pretty nervous to receive his father's shield number. 'I was more confident to have him with me,' he said. 'It was emotional. I'll remember it for the rest of my life.' Before they get their first assignments, PAPD Superintendent of Police Edward Cetnar wanted the graduating class to gather at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum so they can reflect on the agency's storied traditions — and sacrifices. 'It's important to start their career on this hallowed ground, knowing the history of the Port Authority and [what] we, this city and what the nation went through,' he said. 'We're standing on the shoulders of those who have come before us as we continue that legacy.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Drunk woman dragged off Southwest flight in New York, grabs passenger's hair; arrested; watch video
(Photo credit: X) A drunken passenger was arrested at New York's LaGuardia Airport after she caused a late-night disturbance on a Southwest Airlines flight, grabbing another woman's hair and refusing to calm down. Authorities identified the woman as 32-year-old New Yorker Leanna Perry, who faces aggravated assault charges following the incident that occurred around 1 am Tuesday, confirmed the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD). Cabin video footage circulating online reveals multiple passengers and airline staff attempting to control the unruly passenger whilst she maintained a grip on another woman's hair, whilst shouting "fat a** bitch." — CollinRugg (@CollinRugg) Despite clear evidence to the contrary, when asked to "Let go of her hair," the passenger denied holding it, though visibly maintaining her grip. The situation escalated as the passenger began physically attacking others and verbally abusing them whilst staff attempted to restrain her, as documented in footage shared on Reddit early Wednesday. Whilst being restrained with zip-ties, the intoxicated passenger continued her verbal assault, saying "Ugly a** bitch." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Order New Blinds Online & Get $199 Home Installation Learn More Undo Her offensive tirade continued with inappropriate comments about someone's relationship, followed by claims that she "can't breathe" before collapsing between seats. The footage shows her screaming "F**k you!" whilst kicking violently, prompting concerned passengers to request intervention as she continued her aggressive behaviour. When others attempted to assist, she became emotional, demanding to be left alone before launching into another expletive-filled outburst. Port Authority Police confirmed responding to reports of an "intoxicated passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight at Terminal B of LaGuardia Airport." Following the incident, Perry received medical attention before being transferred to the New York City Department of Corrections, according to PAPD. "The Customer involved in the incident was removed from the flight and denied boarding," a Southwest Airlines representative told the New York Post. "We commend our Team for their professionalism during the incident," it added.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Newark airport videos: Delhi formally takes up matter with US Embassy
The Ministry of External Affairs has formally raised the matter with the US Embassy in New Delhi in the wake of social media videos purportedly showing an Indian national being handcuffed and pinned to the ground at the Newark airport. The Indian Consulate in New York has also been in touch with the US authorities to ascertain the details of the incident, as per sources. Posted on X by Indian-American entrepreneur Kunal Jain, the videos and photographs showed an unidentified young man being restrained by officers from the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), the agency responsible for law enforcement across major transport hubs in New York and New Jersey Sunday night. Jain had tagged the Indian Embassy in Washington DC and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in his series of posts. During a call from The Indian Express to Port Authority Police Department at Newark International Airport, an officer said that 'the PAPD doesn't get involved in deportations'. 'The Ministry has formally raised the matter with the US Embassy in New Delhi. Our Embassy in Washington DC and the Indian Consulate in New York have also been in touch with the US authorities to ascertain the details,' sources in the Ministry said. 'We have so far have not received any details about the incident or the circumstances under which he was restrained, the flight he had to board or boarded and his final destination,' sources said, adding that the ministry will continue to follow up on the matter. There is still no information if the person has left Newark or has arrived in India, as per those aware of the matter.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Indian Express
Video shows man pinned down at Newark airport, Indian consulate in touch with US authorities
The Indian Consulate in New York said they have gotten in touch with authorities in the United States after videos purportedly showing 'an Indian student' being handcuffed and pinned to the floor at the Newark airport came to light on Sunday night. Posted on X by an Indian-American entrepreneur, Kunal Jain, the videos and photographs showed an unidentified young individual handcuffed and crying at the airport. Jain, who tagged the Indian Embassy in Washington DC and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in his series of posts, said he was speaking in 'Haryanvi language and accent' and was pleading that the authorities were bent upon declaring him mentally unfit. Taking cognisance of this, the Indian Consulate in New York said on Monday evening, 'We have come across social media posts claiming that an Indian national is facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in touch with local authorities in this regard.' The Consulate remains committed to the welfare of Indian nationals, they said. According to Jain, who said he witnessed the event firsthand, the young man appeared to be in distress and was crying as the Port Authority Police officers restrained him. There is no confirmation if the said individual has left Newark or has arrived in India, as per those aware of the matter. Authorities are presently trying to ascertain the date and time of the video, and the identity of the said individual, they said. Calling it a human tragedy, Jain wrote on X, 'I witnessed a young Indian student being deported from Newark Airport last night — handcuffed, crying, treated like a criminal. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken.' Photographs and video clips shared by Jain show the young man being restrained by officers from the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), the agency responsible for law enforcement across major transport hubs in New York and New Jersey. A call made by The Indian Express to Port Authority Police Department at Newark International Airport didn't elicit any details, except for the officer saying that 'the PAPD doesn't get involved in deportations'. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Palo Alto woman accused of spitting, yelling racial slurs at man
(KRON) — A Palo Alto woman is accused of a hate crime and battery after police said she spat on a man Saturday and continued to yell racial slurs at him in the presence of officers. The Palo Alto Police Department responded around 6 p.m. to the Lytton Plaza, located at 200 University Avenue, on the report of a fight in progress. Arriving officers found a man who reported that he had just been spit on by a woman. Investigating officers said the man, who is in his 60s, was seated in the plaza when a woman, later identified as Lisa Madden, 50, of Palo Alto, approached him. Madden allegedly spit on the man 'while shouting a racial epithet directed at Black people,' police said. Decapitated animals found on Fremont park bench The man, who authorities said feared for his safety, left the plaza following the incident. Officers detained Madden, who 'resumed shouting racial epithets toward the victim in the presence of officers,' PAPD said. Madden was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for disturbing the peace, battery and a hate crime. She also had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for vandalism, police said. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Palo Alto Police Department at 650-329-2413. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
