Thomas Tatarian oral history interview conducted by Melodie Guerrera, July 30, 2010

About

Thomas was a NYC transit police officer for five years until becoming a Suffolk County Police Officer in 1989. He was asleep at this home on the morning of 9/11/01 and was awakened by a frantic neighbor asking for his help in locating her husband, an air traffic controller. Thomas was a part of the K-9 Unit of the SCPD. His dog was trained for both bomb detection and to locate people. He and his dog met with other police officers on 9/11 at MacArthur Airport for the purpose of bomb detection. He mentioned there was nothing he could do at Ground Zero on 9/11 as it was too hot for his dog to search. He arrived on the pile on 9/12 and worked there for two weeks. He worked twelve hour shifts on the pile with his dog and a group of firefighters. When the dog would find body parts, they were placed in body bags. He did not find any intact bodies and did not save anyone but was glad he was able to "bring closure." He spoke of difficulties with the dogs--their feet were blistered from the intense heat, and after four hours on the pile, they were given IV fluids for dehydration. He mentioned his dog seemed depressed after being on the pile. Thomas expressed that he went back to the pile each day because it was important and he wanted to help. He had a friend who was killed and many of his friends and colleagues in NYC were traumatized. He has learned to appreciate life a little more from his experience at Ground Zero and has not lost faith in the U.S. Government.

Archive

Library of Congress, in Library of Congress

Licence or status

Rights statement at the Library of Congress, as the Library of Congress states it.

Credit

Library of Congress

Language

English

Country

United States

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