Remembering 9/11, 2001: A Message from Police Chief David Spiller

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, our nation experienced a day of unimaginable tragedy. The terrorist attacks that morning forever changed our country-and left a lasting mark on all of us who serve in public safety.

For those of us who lived through that day, the memories remain vivid. I remember where I was and the uncertainty that filled the hours as those heartbreaking events unfolded. At the time, I was serving as the Police Special Operations Supervisor for the City of Mountain View. Like public safety professionals across the country, we were trying to comprehend what was happening while preparing ourselves for what might come next.

We did what we were trained to do. We exercised contingencies. We communicated and networked with our law enforcement partners. We assessed threats, prepared our resources, and planned for the unthinkable. But beyond the plans, protocols, and operational responsibilities, something deeply human happened that day.

We drew closer to one another.

We reached out to our families. We checked on our friends and colleagues. We gave blood. We stood together. And across our communities, the American flag appeared everywhere-a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and hope in the face of unimaginable loss.

We all remember where we were that morning. We remember the images, the uncertainty, the fear, and the profound sadness. But for those of us in public safety, September 11th carries another responsibility: to remember.

We must remember the thousands of innocent lives that were taken.

We must remember the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, military members, and ordinary citizens who ran toward danger when others were running away.

We must remember the courage, compassion, and selflessness displayed by so many that day-and in the difficult days and years that followed.

And we must remember the families, friends, and colleagues who were left behind to carry the weight of that loss.

Twenty-five years later, we continue to mourn those whose lives were taken from them far too soon. We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. And we recognize the countless acts of courage and service that emerged from one of the darkest days in our nation's history.

As public safety leaders, remembering September 11th is more than looking back. It is a commitment to carry forward the lessons of that day-to value service, to stand together in times of adversity, to protect those entrusted to our care, and to never forget the extraordinary courage of those who gave everything for others.

Twenty-five years have passed, but we remember. We honor. We reflect. And we continue to serve.