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THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ Memorandum

TO: Lieutenant Edward Gutch, Police Headquarters
FROM: Detective Thomas McHale Jr.
DATE: January 7, 2002

SUBJECT: WORLD TRADE CENTER REPORT

COPY TO: Det/Sgt W, Zika, File.

As per your request in our telephone conversation, on 01/03/02, and in

accordance with Memorandum #64-01, from Chief Morris, the following is an
account of actions performed/witnessed, on 09/11/01, at the WTC.

On 09/11/01, I was on full time assignment to the New York City Police
Department's (NYPD) Major Case Squad (MCS) at One Police Plaza (1PP) , New
York, N.Y. Immediately after hearing the first plane crash into Tower One,
and after observing the damage and flames to said tower, Det. Thomas
Nerney, NYPD/MCS, Det, John 0'Boyle, NYPD/MCS, and myself responded to the
WTC in my FBI/JTTF assigned vehicle. Minutes after the first attack we
arrived at Vesey and Church Streets where I parked my vehicle on the S/W
corner. People were in the process of being evacuated from the complex
through the Church Street doors of 5 WTC. I observed Sgt. Robert Kaulfers,
PAPD/PATH, coordinating/conducting the orderly evacuation. Det. Nerney and
Det. 0'Boyle were introduced to Sgt. Kaulfers outside the Church St.
entrance to 5 WTC. Det. 0'Boyle inquired about the children in the
Childcare and we found they were in the process of being evacuated by
uniformed members of the PAPD. Det. Nerney, Det, 0'Boyle and myself
assisted in the evacuations of the people fleeing the WTC complex via the
WTC concourse and exiting through 5 WTC. Shortly thereafter, Det. Nerney
and I responded to the PAPD/WTC police desk where I secured a PAPD/WTC
radio. At this time, I was informed by Det. Ron Nafey, PAPD/PATH, of a
witness to the crash and recorded his name in my notebook: Christopher
Harvey, DOB: 03/18/67, residing at 86-10 Grand Ave., Elmhurst, N.Y., (718)
303-9083. I turned this witness over to Det. Nerney. Shortly thereafter,
Nerney, 0'Boyle, Nafey, myself and possibly Det. Rich Paugh, PAPD,
responded to the WTC Plaza, through 5 WTC. There were a number of people
on the plaza including some with injuries. Soon bodies began to fall from
Tower One crashing onto the plaza creating an explosion like sound. Some
of the people who attempted to cross the plaza were struck with-falling
bodies and debris. We propped open the doors to the plaza with a table.
As we evacuated people from the plaza, we instructed them to stay under the
buildings overhang to protect them from the falling bodies and debris. I
believe it was at this time when we were joined by Chief William Hall,
PAPD. At one point I was told by a PAPD officer that a second plane was in
route, I passed this information along to the others. Shortly thereafter,
the second plane crashed into Tower Two and the amount of debris and bodies

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falling onto the plaza had increased. A piece of the aircraft's hydraulic
system crashed to the plaza and bounced into the WTC lobby through the
propped open door. The piece was turned over to Det. Nafey for evidence
vouchering. At one point, an unidentified, white, male, with an injured
arm, and obviously suffering from shock, walked aimlessly on the plaza and
repeatedly stated that he was the floor fire warden and had to get his
people out. As I approached this individual we were almost struck by a
body which fell from the tower. This individual was physically removed
from the plaza and escorted out of the complex by Det. Nerney. A PAPD/WTC
radio transmission identified the second attack as a missile from the
Woolworth building. After interviewing Det. Kevin Barry and P.O. Michael
Oldmixen, NYPD/Bomb Squad, at the corner of Church and Vesey Streets, I
made a radio transmission that the second attack was a commercial aircraft
as identified by the two bomb squad officers. In addition, I observed a
piece of an aircraft engine on the N/E corner of Church and Vesey Streets.
(Although I don't recall if I observed this engine part before or after the
second plane struck the WTC.) I returned to 5 WTC and the flow of evacuees
had increased as did the severity of their injuries. At this point, I
don't remember if I observed Sgt. Robert Kaulfers where he was seen
earlier.

I returned to the WTC police desk and met with Det. James Wheeler and Det.
John Fitzgerald, PAPD. Also present were PAPD detectives Ron Nafey, Rich
Paugh, a civilian cameraman, a PA civilian manager, the desk officers, Sgt.
John McLaughlin (phonetic) and other PAPD officers. I was no longer in
contact with NYPD detectives Nerney or 0'Boyle. Det. Wheeler advised that
the cameraman had recorded the second plane crashing into the WTC. After
further discussion, Det. Wheeler and Det. John Fitzgerald departed the WTC
police desk with the cameraman. (Weeks later I was informed that P.O.
Uhuruh Houston was the person captured on this video directing people out
of 5 WTC.) Shortly thereafter, while in 5 WTC, Tower Two collapsed. (At
the time I did not know what had happened.) Although unable to see due to
the dust, debris and smoke, I made my way out of 5 WTC and ran north on
Church Street.

After the debris had somewhat settled I returned to the area of 5 WTC. As
I ran south on Church Street I came in contact with Assistant District
Attorney Max Wiley, New York County District Attorney's Office. I assisted
three injured NYPD officers (PO Kimmons, PO Soto and Traffic Officer
Francois) into an ambulance on Church Street. Other injured civilian and
uniformed officers were located and assisted to first aid. At one point I
was informed by a Christopher Mills (917 662-2029) that his girlfriend
Danielle Kousoulis and her co-workers were trapped on the N/W corner of the
104th floor in Tower One. Although I was not receiving radio transmissions
I attempted to broadcast Mills' message about the individuals trapped on
the 104th floor. I also notified NYPD ESU and an FDNY fire chief at the
scene. (A month or so later, I was informed that Ms. Kousoulis and her co-
workers did not survive.) Members of NYPD, FDNY, civilian personnel and

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myself, continued to assist with the evacuation of the injured through 5

WTC. At one point I decided to answer a page sent by my daughter. Unable
to get a signal on my cellular telephone, I exited 5 WTC. Shortly
thereafter, Tower One collapsed. I ran north on Church Street but was
caught up in the debris before ducking into 99 Church Street.

I again returned to the area of 5 WTC with members of the NYPD, FDNY and
civilians. We encountered some people who suffered fatal injuries and were
obviously DOA. These people were carried to 99 Church Street and covered
with paper gowns taken from the crushed ambulances along the route. As we
searched for survivors in the debris we could hear the roar of jet engines
overhead. Due to the smoke, fire and debris clouds we could not identify
these aircrafts. I called the FBI Newark office (by public phone) and
notified them of our situation and requested all the help we could get.
Later, I received a page from the FBI Newark office and was informed that
the jets overhead were U.S. Military. I don't recall how long after the
collapse, but at one point as I exited 5 WTC I met P.O. Paul Nunziato,
PAPD/PATH, and P.O. Collin Hennessy, NYPD/34 Pet, (brother of P.O. Michael
Hennessy, PAPD/PATH). At this time I learned of the missing PAPD officers
including Sgt. Kaulfers. Shortly thereafter, I again met NYPD bomb squad
members P.O. Oldmixen and Det, Kevin Barry who were accompanied by Sgt.
Michael Walsh also of the NYPD bomb squad. At one point I met NYPD Chief
William Ali in front of 5 WTC. I informed Chief Ali that I was with Det.
Nerney and Det. O 1 Boyle and I reported them missing, (Later on that
afternoon I received a page from my daughter who informed me that both
detectives were ok.) At some point, I received medical treatment for the
debris in my eyes.

I remained in the vicinity of Church and Vesey Streets until nightfall. I

met Det./Lt. Michael Podolak, PAPD, in the vicinity of Church and Liberty
Streets. We responded to the FBI New York office and then I returned to
the NYPD Major Case Squad at 1PP.

Shortly thereafter, Det. Dan Gardner, NYPD/70 Pet, and I responded to

Liberty Street, between Church and West Streets. There we joined in the
supply line in the rescue of P.O. Will Jimeno, PAPD/BT, and Sgt. John
McLaughlin, PAPD/WTC, who were trapped under the collapse. At the scene
were: Insp. Robert Sbarra, P.O. Thomas Moore, P.O. Paul Nunziato, P.O. Pat
Callahan, P.O. Tim Mueller, P.O. Michael Hennessy, and other PAPD personnel
whose names I do not recall at this time. An unidentified FDNY EMS
lieutenant was instructing us to take the injured officers, once rescued,
to the 10-10 Firehouse on Liberty Street. I responded to the firehouse and
found it to be severely damaged, covered with dust and debris and not
suitable for any type of medical procedure. I then responded to 1 Liberty
Street, just east of Church Street, and located a triage center. I
notified the surgeon and medical staff of the recovery in progress and made
arrangements to have the injured officers transported to 1 Liberty. The
FDNY EMS lieutenant disagreed with transporting the injured officers to 1

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Liberty and insisted that we bring them to the 10-10 Firehouse. I returned
to 1 Liberty and requested that the surgeon accompany me back to the sight.
At the sight the surgeon instructed the EMS lieutenant to follow my orders
and to have both injured officers transported to 1 Liberty. P.O. Jimeno
was the first to be recovered. In the early morning hours of 09/12/01,
P.O. Jimeno was carried to 1 Liberty by PAPD personnel. Det. Dan Gardner,
NYPD/70 Pet, led the way by clearing a path through the army of responding
rescue personnel. Once at 1 Liberty, P.O. Jimeno was placed in an awaiting
ambulance. A U.S. Marine, who took an active part in Jimeno's rescue,
refused to leave the rear of the ambulance and was physically removed by
the undersigned. I instructed P.O. Bruce Kent, PAPD, to remain with P.O.
Jimeno for the duration. I responded back to Liberty Street and rejoined
the supply line for the rescue of Sgt. McLaughlin. Physically exhausted
and unable to be of further assistance I went end of tour. Det. Gardner
transported me to my residence (my vehicle was destroyed in the collapse).

On the same day, I returned to the scene and rejoined in the search of the
WTC. A number of PAPD personnel were on the scene, including Lt. John
Ryan, PAPD/BT. A secondary partial collapse of a damaged building in the
plaza area caused an injury to my left elbow. I was treated at the scene
(and later by PA Medical and a personal physician). I met Deputy Director
Stephen Clendenin, Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 (MATF
1), near the plaza of the WTC. I requested the assistance of Clendenin,
his crew and their rescue equipment. Clendenin was instructed to unload
his trucks on Church Street just south of Dey Street in front of the WTC
Plaza. PAPD radio communications were established between those digging
and MATF 1 supply. On 09/12/01, at approximately 3:00 p.m., with the
assistance of MATF I, PAPD officers P.O. Donald Burns, P.O. Gerry Colligan
(phonetic), P.O. Keith Festa, P.O. Ron Delmar, P.O. Pat McNerney, myself
and other PAPD officers, recovered the uniformed body of P.O. Dominic
Pezzulo, PAPD/BT, from the WTC Plaza area S/W of the globe. P.O. Pezzulo
was placed in a stationary ambulance on Church and Dey Streets. Once in
the ambulance, P.O. Pezzolo's PA parking identification card was recovered
from his pocket and returned. (At the time of his recovery, P.O. Pezzulo's
gun and shield were not with his body.) P.O. Pezzulo1s body was
transported to a second ambulance by PAPD personnel. I assigned P.O. Ron
Delmar and P.O. Festa, PAPD/BT, to escort P.O. Pezzulo's body to the
temporary morgue. As the days passed the sight became more organized as
did the documentation of those recovered.

The aforementioned account is to the best of my recollection. Initially, I

did not remember all of the facts until I was reminded of some of the
incidents in later conversations with those mentioned. It is also safe to
assume that I did not mention all of the PAPD personnel I encountered
during this crisis. In addition, the aforementioned facts may not
necessarily be in sequential order. Also not included, which would serve
no meaningful purpose, is the graphic descriptions on how some of those
died this day. Although the most horrific and heart breaking experience in

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my entire life and career, I was never so proud to be a Port Authority cop,
On this day, and the months following, I witnessed our cops, of all ranks,
young and old, perform above and beyond their sworn duties.

Detective Thomas ffcHale Jr,

PAPD #49
Joint Terrorism Task Force

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