Fallen Port Authority Police Officer Dominick Pezzulo (EOW 9/11/2001) and Los Angeles Police Officer Joe Cirrito met while they were special education teachers at Lehman High School in Bronx, New York, in the 1990s. They formed a strong friendship and frequently discussed their desires to enter law enforcement. Pezzulo told Cirrito he tested for the Port Authority Police Department and encouraged him to take police entrance exams. 

It was not long before Dominick received an appointment to the Port Authority Police Academy and left Lehman and his teaching career. Cirrito was undecided, but also left Lehman around the same time and relocated to Southern California, where his former wife and children had settled. Cirrito continued teaching as a Los Angeles public school teacher.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, as Cirrito watched the unfolding horror in Lower Manhattan, he instinctively knew his friend Dominick was dead. He was well aware of Dominick’s character and was certain Dominick responded to the World Trade Center to save as many lives as he could, resulting in the death of a hero.

That infamous morning of September 11 began for Dominick while he was patrolling Eighth Avenue when the first plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Dominick, Police Officer Will Jimeno and a squad of cops commandeered a city bus on Ninth Avenue, directing the driver to the World Trade Center. As the bus made its way downtown, a second aircraft struck the south tower. Once on scene, they encountered unimaginable horror. People trapped in jet fuel-fed infernos on the upper floors had to choose how they would die: jump or burn. Rescuers dodged falling bodies and burning debris while trying to enter the towers.

Dominick, Jimeno and Emergency Service Unit Sergeant John McLoughlin made entry into the south tower, leading people out and gathering emergency equipment. Soon, the north tower collapsed.

Cirrito later learned that Dominick was buried in the rubble of the north tower with Jimeno and McLoughlin, who were both trapped under tons of debris. Dominick was not trapped and began trying to free Jimeno and McLoughlin when the second tower collapsed, killing Dominick. Before his last breath left him, Dominick said, “Willie, don’t forget, I died trying to save you guys.”

Dominick’s death created a determination in Cirrito to join the Los Angeles Police Department. At 35 years, he was the oldest in his academy class.

As Cirrito’s police career progressed, he wanted to do something to honor Dominick and all fallen law enforcement officers. He began running long distances in memory of the fallen and raising funds for related charities. One of his runs was a 12-day, 420-mile journey.

His first run honoring Dominick was the Los Angeles Run to Remember half-marathon, which he ran in full duty uniform and gear while carrying a blue line American flag. Since then, he has completed all his runs in full uniform.

Cirrito, now a 20-year LAPD veteran, always wanted to present his half-marathon medal and the flag he carried to Dominick’s command, the PAPD Bus Terminal Command, known as “The BT” in Hell’s Kitchen on the west side of Manhattan. He also harbored another desire: to meet now-retired Detective Will Jimeno.

On Monday, July 8, 2024, Cirrito and his wife, Jeanine, during a visit to New York, attended a BT Command roll call. At that roll call, Cirrito met Detective Jimeno,
whose life Cirrito’s dear friend Dominick Pezzulo tried desperately to save. The two shared an emotional embrace, completing their common lineage.

During the roll call, Cirrito spoke to the young BT cops about Dominick, his character, his influence and his heroics. When presenting the command his half-marathon medal, his tears flowed. Cirrito is never embarrassed by his emotions when he speaks of Dominick because, to him, Dominick represents the courage, dedication and selflessness of all law enforcement officers and the profession he loves.

Cirrito is assigned to the LAPD’s Olympic Division, where some years ago he created “The Dom,” a physical event held every September 11 at the Olympic Division station house. During this event, cops and firefighters climb stairs carrying packs of fire hoses, recreating the 110 floors of each World Trade Center tower.

Learn more about the Pezzulo–Cirrito connection at apbweb.com/2018/11/running-to-honor-the-fallen.