On the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks on our country, Safe Horizon was asked to speak in memory of the three brave New York State court officers who gave their lives to rescue others as the towers fell. Queens Family Court case managers Triny Rodriguez, Fabiloa Davila, and Brianna Carrion eulogized Captain William Harry Thompson, Officer Mitchel Wallace, and Sergeant Thomas Edward Jurgens at the annual remembrance. In the words of Triny Rodriquz, “…their courage continues to impact my generation, reminding us of the strength, unity, and selflessness that emerged from one of the darkest moments in our history.”
William Harry Thompson: “The stair climber”
Written by Triny Rodriguez
Captain William Harry Thompson was a 51-year-old New York State Court Administration Officer and firearms instructor at the Court Officers Academy in lower Manhattan. He was well known for his commitment to fitness, earning the nickname, “The Stair Climber.” He often took the stairs to the 12th floor of the Court Officers Academy and rarely used the elevator, encouraging his students to do the same. Those who knew him described him as an easygoing, dedicated, and respected leader.
Captain Thompson understood that his profession required him to put himself in harm’s way to protect and assist others. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, what began as a routine workday for most New Yorkers quickly turned into a day that the world will never forget. Captain Thompson reported to work as usual, but when the attacks occurred, he did not hesitate to respond and help those in need.
Demonstrating courage and selflessness, Captain Thompson rushed toward danger alongside firefighters and police officers to help those trapped inside the World Trade Center. He entered the South Tower and lost his life when it collapsed at 9:59 am, while helping others.
Of the court officers who responded that day, three, including Captain Thompson, gave their lives in service to others. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication to public service continues to inspire us.
Today, Captain Thompson’s legacy lives on through the Captain Harry Thompson Foundation, whose mission is to empower student athletes while fostering resilience, teamwork, leadership, and personal growth.
Although I was only one year old when this tragedy occurred, and have no personal memory of that day, Captain Thompson’s sacrifice and the sacrifice of so many others have shaped the world I grew up in.
His courage continues to impact my generation, reminding us of the strength, unity, and selflessness that emerged from one of the darkest moments in our history.
Today we honor Captain William Harry Thompson, remembering his courage, selflessness, and commitment to helping others. He will never be forgotten.
Sergeant Thomas Edward Jurgens
Written by Brianna Carrion
On the morning of September 11, 2001, three brave family court officers rushed from 60 Lafayette Street to the horrific scene unfolding. There, outside 5 World Trade Center, Sergeant Thomas Edward Jurgens, along with with his fellow court officers Officer Wallace and Captain Thompson, aided injured civilians, including a woman having a heart attack and a man with a severe cut on his head. When someone warned Sergeant Jurgens not to go back inside, he responded, “No, people need help. They need us in there.” Sergeant Jurgens and his fellow court officers were last seen in the underground mall beneath the burning South Tower that would collapse at 9:59 a.m.
Thomas Edward Jurgens was born November 30, 1974. He was 26, almost 27 years old on September 11, 2001. He was in the Army reserves. He had just gotten married in June 2001. In 1997, he passed the Civil Service exam to become a police officer and a court officer. He decided to become a court office, because according to his wife, it was supposed to be safer
On that tragic day, I was only a year old. Since that day, I’ve grown and learned, I’ve finished school, and I started my career. Now, 25 years later, I am the same age Sergeant Jurgens was when he died. He will soon have been gone from this world longer than he was alive.
As time marches on and memories fade, we will not forget Thomas Edward Jurgens. A courageous hero who, like his uncle Paul Jurgens, a Port Authority Officer, saw what was happening at the World Trade Center and ran towards danger instead of running away. A selfless hero who sacrificed the opportunity to return home to his loved ones so that those trapped at the World Trade Center could have a chance to return home to theirs. A sentimental hero with such great love for humanity, he was willing to lay down his life for strangers.
May we never forget his heroism, his sacrifice, his courage, and his love. May his life inspire us, and his memory remain a blessing.
Mitchel Wallace: “I have to help”
Written by Patricia Allen, read by Fabiola Davila
On September 11, 2001, Court Officer Mitchel Wallace was arriving for work at 111 Centre Street when he witnessed the attack on the World Trade Center. Without hesitation, he ran toward the danger to help those in need.
Mitchel, 34, was a dedicated court officer, a trained emergency medical technician, and, above all, a man who believed in helping others. His instinct to protect and serve was not limited to his profession. He had already saved lives before September 11th, including performing CPR for more than 25 minutes on a man suffering cardiac arrest aboard the Long Island Railroad, an act of heroism that earned him recognition from Chief Judge Judith Kaye.
That same courage guided him on September 11th. When Mitchel called his fiancée and told her about the terrible scene, she urged him to leave. He responded, “I can’t. There are bodies everywhere. I have to help.”
Those were among his final words.
Mitchel never came home, but his courage and compassion remain with us. He answered the call to help when others were in need, and in doing so, he made the ultimate sacrifice.
Today, we remember not only how Mitchel died, but how he lived, with courage, kindness, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to others.
We remember his service. We honor his sacrifice. We carry his memory with us.