Fallen Heroes of the NYPD: From September 11

MY FALLEN HEROeS OF THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT

BY STEVEN aka MAGE

               I have had the pleasure of knowing and serving with many many fine men and women as a member of the NYPD. It started when I was a junior in high school and an officer came to speak to us. I had always been interested in a career in law and this sealed the deal for me. I started training while in my senior year threw a co-op between the police and the school system. After graduation I joined the force and was lucky enough to be assigned close to my neighborhood and I patrolled the Jamaica-Queens area. Over the next few years I got to meet as I said before many wonderful people. 

               Then on September 11, 2001 tragedy struck and many of the people I had grown to love were suddenly gone. Others, like myself, survived. Of those who survived though many came down with illnesses and other complications as a result of the work they did at the World Trade Center site. Lots have since passed on as a result of these complications. I myself have developed heart and lung problems resulting in 3 heart attacks. The reason I'm writing this is to let people see into something that is a huge part of my life and also as a tool for me to grief honor and remember these people. So let me share with you their stories. I will start with the most recent:

Michelle “Chells” Burnhardt July 17, 1979 – November 2, 2014

               Chells was my life long best friend. She moved into the house next to me at the age of 6. We hit it off almost instantly playing together outside everyday after school. 8 years after our first meet we shared our first kiss on her 14th birthday. This was very special to me as it was the first time I had ever kissed a girl. We started dating that day and lasted a whole 2 months before she thought she liked a girl n left me for her. That didn't break the special bond we had formed though. We continued to be attached at the hips all the way threw middle school and high school. We shared everything with each other. She even introduced me to my wife although she was reluctant to do so. Me and Chells had made plans one day to do something and she broke the plans at the last minute causing us to fight. About a week past without us speaking to each other before she called to apologize. She told me to come over so I did. When I got there she was there with another gorgeous girl. Turns out the reason she broke our plans was to comfort this girl after her boyfriend broke up with her. She didn't want me to meet her cause she was jealous n thought id be more attracted to the friend then I was to her. I went on to date the friend and eventually marry her with Chells as the maid of honor. From that day me, Chells, and my future wife were inseparable. After graduation I officially joined the NYPD with Chells right along at my side. She said there was no way she was going to let me be in danger of being shot at without her being there to protect me lol.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001- I was about half way threw my shift and Chells was just starting hers when all hell broke out. I was covering for someone on a shift in Manhattan when the all call started. I was 2 blocks away and the 7th officer to arrive. Chells got there about an hour later from what she told me. Chells was my real hero that day. She stayed there and helped search until she passed out from exhaustion and heat fatigue. She searched for 36 hours straight (rough estimate).

MARCH 6, 2008- My wife dies of lupus and Chells is there with me not leaving my side. She stayed with me for 2 days prior praying and watching over Patty.

NOVEMBER 2, 2014- Chells passed away today after from what I have been told was a very long and fierce battle with cancer. Her family told me it was caused by chemicals and dust in the air at the ground zero site. They also told me this was a very long battle and that she didn't want me to know so I wouldn't worry. She was always putting others before herself.

RIP CHELLS I LOVE YOU AND I WILL MISS YOU.

YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART

***1st love***

Micheal Yarborough (2004)

            Mike was my FTO or Field Training Officer. Everything I know about police work I learned from him. He took the time to make sure that you not only knew the proper way to do things but also that you knew why things were done how they were done. If there was something that you didn't understand he would help you and walk you threw it until you did understand. Every month he would host a BBQ at his house for every officer he had trained. It didn't matter what precinct house you were...if mike trained you then you were welcome. If you ever had a problem you could go with him whether it was work related or something in ya personal life. I once saw him give a $1000 to an officer to help pay his daughters tuition at a private school. Mike died on the job in 2004 from a brain tumor also caused by chemicals on 9/11

Justin Lander (2001)

            Justin was my partner in patrol at the time of the attacks. He was a seasoned patrol officer and knew the streets well. He was always willing to help the trouble and less fortunate that we came across on our patrols. I remember our long talks walking down Jamaica Ave or on the overhead platforms. He always had an interesting story to tell. Sometimes it was about weird stuff he had seen while working other times it was about his latest trip. Justin was killed in the line of duty at the world trade centers on 9/11 when a steel beam fell on him.

Yessica (Yeaaasi) Hernandez (2001)

            Yessica was sorta a rough one. She was more of one of the guys then the guys were lol. Football, basketball, hokey....she could play them all. Get in a foot chase? Yessica we need you!! I have never seen anyone who could run as fast as her. Yessica was also the class clown. She always had a joke to tell or trick to play. If you needed a laugh she was the one to see. We would call her "Yeaaasi" cause she would often end a sentence with “ya see” but would sound like yeaaasi lol. Yessica died at the World Trade Center when she fell threw a weak spot in the rubble.

            These are just a few of the many many people I knew, loved, and have lost. These are my heroes. They are The Heroes of the New York City Police Department. I could not have asked for a better group of people to serve with. I regret having survived when they did not. Especially when it comes to Chells. If I had not joined the department then neither would have she and she would still be alive. You know when people say “how john would have given the shirt off his back”? Well these people literally would have. They will be terribly missed but fondly remembered.

            I also want to say and point out that these people and the NYPD weren't the only heroes that day. The Port Authority police, FDNY, state police, and FBI all had and lost people there. And we also cant forget about all the civilians who lost their lives that day.

            A lot of people, especially those who were too young to remember, say OK so what? It is over. It happened 13 years ago why are we still talking about it? The answer is simple: It isn't over. For many of us...thousands in fact...it will never be over. We see the devastation over and over every day in our minds. We walk around and see all the little things that nobody else notices and it brings back a whole flood of memories and feelings.

We will never forget!!!

RIP FALLEN FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND HEROES