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STORIES

Richard Cutting

Veteran

Richard Cutting
Military Affiliations

  • Police Officer

MY connection to 9/11

  • I was a first responder (fire, police, EMT) on 9/11

Where were you when you first heard about or saw the 9/11 terrorist attacks?

I was transporting a murder suspect to turn over to another jurisdiction. When I arrived, a state trooper rushed out of their station and said a plane had hit the tower. We took the suspect into the station and saw on TV the second plane hit. My partner and I were in shock believing the US was under active attack. We headed back to our station and realized no one on the highway knew of the attack. We stopped at a diner to wait out a traffic accident jam, and had them turn on the radio. All of the people there were silent and in shock listening to the news reports.

How did the events of that day shape your life and inspire your service to this country?

As a Marine veteran and police officer, I volunteered to go to Ground Zero to help in any way needed.

What are you excited to contribute to your community, however you define it, for the next 20 years?

I continued to serve as I have always done, trying to be a calming presence to the public. I also ride for an honor guard for NY Run For the Fallen so that those who have fallen since the war on terror are not forgotten.

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