IslandVibesIOP.com 12 the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). White explained, “Jon Stewart advocated for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, testifying before Congress in 2019 when funding was about to end for sick and dying first responders.” Stewart’s passionate and emotional testimony before the House FEATURE Remembering 9/11 a quarter century later A policeman’s firsthand account from Ground Zero By Laura Fogarty After 30 years with the New York Police Department, and another four years with the Isle of Palms Police Department, Sgt. Thomas White is well-versed in protecting the community he serves. “People tend to think it must be vastly different policing in Manhattan versus policing on the Isle of Palms, but it’s more alike than you might think. They are both high-volume tourist destinations and require that you don’t let your guard down. Being on the Isle of Palms Front Beach near the pier on July the Fourth is very similar to working in Times Square – the size of the crowd, the volume of people and the tourist aspect is the same.” After vacationing on the island with wife Mindy, a former NYPD sergeant, and their two children, White said, “We fell in love with the place, and decided to move here.” White and his wife still travel to NYC following the 9/11 tragedy for yearly physicals through the World Trade Center Health Registry by way of Judiciary Subcommittee helped to push forward the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. The bill ultimately passed, authorizing and funding the VCF through Oct. 1, 2090. White continued, “People say ‘never forget,’ but I don’t need a plaque or a T-shirt or anything else to remind me of that day. The men and women who we lost and continue to lose. That’s the constant reminder.” Of the immediate impact of the events of 9/11, White recounted, “Every officer was activated to come in for duty. We were called in on the news. So we reported to command and it was absolute mayhem when we got to lower Manhattan. For the first time in NYPD history, there was no plan in place. We were just winging it. When we got to Ground Zero, the smell is something I cannot forget – like a burning house smell, but so much worse. In all those WIN TICKETS REGISTER TO WIN DRAWING WILL BE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 12:00 PM IslandVibesIOP.com/Zac-Brown-Ticket SEPTEMBER 17 AT THE CREDIT ONE STADIUM | FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY BROUGHT TO YOU BY The pride of Isle of Palms, SC today, tomorrow and always. ENJOY AN EVENING WITH ZAC BROWN and special guest Brothers Osborne Continued on Page 13. Sgt. Thomas White's last day of service with the NYPD.
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