Police Officer James Patrick Leahy

Police Officer James Patrick Leahy

New York City Police Department, New York

End of Watch Tuesday, September 11, 2001

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James Patrick Leahy

Officer James Leahy was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center.

Officer Leahy had served with the New York City Police Department for nine years and was assigned to the 6th Precinct. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

He was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.


The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, seventy-two officers from a total of eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

After the impact of the first plane into the World Trade Center's North Tower, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personnel, rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid the victims and lead them to safety. Due to their quick actions, it is estimated that over 25,000 people were saved.

As the evacuation continued, the South Tower unexpectedly collapsed as a result of the intense fire caused by the impact. The North Tower collapsed a short time later. Seventy-two law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site on 9/11.

A third hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to re-take control of the plane. One law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on the plane, was killed in that crash.

The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel. No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon on 9/11.

The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which also was based in Afghanistan.

On September 9th, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11th, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush.

The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill and eventually led to the death of several rescue workers.

On May 1st, 2011, members of the United States military conducted a raid on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed Osama bin Laden.

Please click here to visit the memorials of all of the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.

Bio

  • Age 38
  • Tour 9 years
  • Badge 8943

Incident Details

  • Cause Terrorist attack
  • Weapon Aircraft; Passenger jet
  • Offender 19 suicide attackers

9/11, terrorism

Most Recent Reflection

View all 155 Reflections

Today, in my classroom, we will be learning about the sacrifice and dedication of the first responders of 9-11.. Yesterday, my husband participated in the Tunnel to the Towers golf fundraiser and to honor a first responder, he chose to wear the nametag of Officer James Leahy during this event. I took this nametag and am wearing it today and will highlight Officer Leahy to allow honor his memory and the memory of all of the other brave first responders who put their lives on the line to help others during this tragic day in history. I was in the classroom on that day and will never forget the way it changed our country forever. I will share Officer Leahy as an example of one of New York's finest Heroes with my 5th graders today. God Bless your family on this day and every day forward. We must always remember.

Karen Von Oppen (civilian/educator)
Northern Michigan Educator

September 11, 2024

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