Connellsville graduate, now NYPD officer, recalls 9/11
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Maribeth Bradley, a Connellsville native, was inspired to become a member of the New York Police Department following 9/11.
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Maribeth Bradley (left), a Connellsville native and original member of the Connellsville Area High School Patriots, watches with Connellsville Councilman Greg Ritch (right) while a piece the WTC steel obtained by the organization is being loaded on a truck for the journey to Connellsville. Bradley is now a member of the New York Police Department.
Connellsville native Maribeth Bradley is spending much of her off-duty time as a New York police officer these days studying for a sergeant鈥檚 examination that will be administered next month.
Her journey to New York began a decade ago when she and her fellow Connellsville Area High School classmates watched on television as terrorist piloted airplanes crashed in to the World Trade Center twin towers.
鈥淥ddly enough, I was in my Problems of Democracy class when the first plane struck,鈥� recalled Bradley.
As the events unfolded and the students watched, they soon realized, she said, this was not an accidental occurrence, rather something much more sinister.
鈥淎t that time we had a false sense of security,鈥� said Bradley. 鈥淲e believed nothing could happen to us.
鈥淲hen that second tower was hit, we knew it wasn鈥檛 an accident anymore, we were under attack.鈥�
Soon after, parents began coming to the high school to pick up the students. The turn of events had spread fear throughout the school community.
鈥淓very five minutes there was a call from the office that someone鈥檚 parents were there to pick them up,鈥� said Bradley. 鈥淓veryone wanted to be close to home; they wanted security.
鈥淓ven in our small town there was a fear that something else was going to happen here.鈥�
And they were right, added Bradley. Just 50 miles from the school, the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, likely bound for Washington, D.C., was crashed into a Somerset County farm field when the passengers learned of the other incidents.
The events of that September 2001 day were forever etched on her heart and in her mind. Many of her choices since are tied to that day and the ones that followed.
Bradley signed on with a group being formed by English teacher Linda Shearer that would eventually become the Connellsville Area High School (CAHS) Patriots.
鈥淚t was a worthwhile cause,鈥� said Bradley. 鈥�(Shearer) needed help and who could turn her down when she needs help?鈥�
Since its formation, the organization has sent thousands of packages to deployed soldiers and held various local programs to honor veterans.
In February, when Shearer and other Patriot and district representatives traveled to JFK International Airport to secure an artifact from the 9/11 downing of the towers, Bradley joined the group.
As she was determining her life path after graduation in 2004, Bradley remembered those that had rushed to help the twin tower victims and decided to become a part of that community.
鈥淣ew York suffered the most loss that day,鈥� said Bradley. 鈥淥ur perception of New Yorkers before 9/11 was that they were rough and tough; that nothing fazed them.
鈥淭hat they were angry and mean and cared for no one but themselves.鈥�
That perception was reversed, she said, as she watched police officers, fire fighters and regular citizens with no concern for their personal safety, rush to the aid of those in need.
鈥淵ou saw people supporting each other; people carrying dead bodies to nearby churches so that they could be identified,鈥� said Bradley.
鈥淚t was amazing to see this big, bad city come together and I wanted to become a part of the good that was going to come from that.鈥�
She enrolled in the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan and received a degree in forensic psychology. Shortly thereafter, she was hired by the New York Police Department and attended the police academy.
Today, she is a part of the Street Division Unit based in the Bronx.
鈥淲e deal with violent crimes, guns, person on person violence and gangs,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ost of what we do is try to keep the high crime areas under control.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the less savory part of police work.鈥�
When not on duty, Bradley said that she has watched the slow rebuilding of what is now referred to as ground zero.
鈥淚t is amazing how fast the NYC Freedom Tower (1 World Trade Center) is now going up,鈥� she said, noting it was several years before the underground floors reached ground level. 鈥淭he skyline changes daily.鈥�
Her attendance at the 9/11 memorial services will be dependent upon her police schedule. However, her thoughts will be with the families of victims and the first responders.
鈥淚鈥檒l never forget,鈥� she said.