Paul Jurgens in uniform
Paul Jurgens painting a house
Paul Jurgens sitting at a desk
Portrait of Paul Jurgens
Paul Jurgens' badge
Paul Jurgens at a Yankees game
Paul Jurgens family picture
Paul Jurgens camping
Paul Jurgens with family and friends
Paul Jurgens family picture
Queen Elizabeth II September 11 Memorial Garden
Conseleya 9/11 Memorial
Dewitt 9/11 Memorial
Montclair State University 9/11 Memorial
East Newark 9/11 Memorial
Fair Haven 9/11 Memorial
Freehold Township 9/11 Living Memorial Tree Grove
Crescent Beach Park - Flagpole/Memorial for 9/11 Victims
Garrison Elementary School American Patriot Garden
Officer Paul Jurgens, forty-seven, was driving from JFK Airport to Jersey City on the morning of September 11th. He was last seen speeding to the World Trade Center to help. A Port Authority officer for twenty-one years, he helped rescue many of the injured during the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center. In 1992 he was involved in the successful evacuation of 292 passengers from a burning jet that had crashed on takeoff at JFK Airport.
A former Marine Corps corporal, Jurgens joined the Port Authority police in 1980. His proficiency in rescue work led to a job as instructor at the Port Authority’s Rescue Training Center. Jurgens also volunteered for the East Meadow Fire Department and coached Police Athletic League baseball.
He and his wife, Maria, had three children – Paul, June and Lindsay. The youngest of four siblings, Jurgens loved pulling practical jokes. As reported in the New York Times and New York Post accounts of the September 29 memorial service for Jurgens, his brother-in-law said he woke up after dozing off one evening after dinner to find the words “Paul Jurgens is my hero” written on his arm. “Now I realize how true that is,” he said.
From Police Heroes, a book by author Chuck Whitlock
New York Times Portraits of Grief
Those who knew Paul Jurgens said his life was divided into three parts: family, work and practical jokes. He excelled at all three.
He joined the Port Authority police in 1980 and developed such expertise as a rescuer that he was made an instructor at the authority's Rescue Training Center. On the morning of Sept. 11, Mr. Jurgens, 47, was driving from Kennedy International Airport to Jersey City, but he detoured and was last seen speeding to the World Trade Center to help. In 1992, he rushed onto a burning jumbo jet that had crashed on takeoff at Kennedy and helped usher all 292 passengers to safety.
"What he did was unusual and heroic," said Sgt. Mike Florie, one of his supervisors. "It's hot and smoke-filled, and you're risking your life."
On weekends, he loved to shoot baskets and throw softballs with Paul Jr., 17, June, 15, and Lindsay, 9. He and his wife, Maria, also loved inviting friends over to barbecues.
"He always used to say, `I got it made. I got the greatest wife, the greatest kids and the greatest job,' " she said.
As for practical jokes, his brother-in-law, Tony Liotta, recalled that when he woke up after dozing off one evening after dinner, he found "Paul Jurgens is my hero" written on his arm.
At a memorial service in Levittown, N.Y., Mr. Liotta said, "Now I realize how true that is."
Tunnel to Towers 5K - Ohio
I participated in the Tunnel to Towers 5K in Medina, Ohio, on Sunday, September 8, 2024. As part of the event, we were given individual "badges" of the fallen firemen and police officers from 9/11. I was honored to wear Paul's picture badge and to read his story. He will not be forgotten.
Posted by Cindy Becker
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