As the nation marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Philadelphia‑area readers get a close‑up look at the experience of a local hero who answered the call to New York City’s Ground Zero. Former Philadelphia Police Department crime‑scene investigator John Taggart was among roughly a dozen officers sent from the city to document the devastation and aid recovery efforts.
From the streets of Philadelphia to Ground Zero
Taggart, who spent 32 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, recalls the shock of arriving at the site. “You could tell almost immediately… there was no one alive,” he said, describing the eerie silence that greeted the first responders. He noted that the scene was unlike anything he had ever witnessed – no glass, no telephones, no computers – only rubble and personal items scattered everywhere, including “shoes everywhere.”
According to Taggart, his small team of five officers was among the first law‑enforcement personnel from outside New York to reach the disaster zone. “Apparently, we were the first outsiders to actually get to Ground Zero, and it was only five of us,” he recalled.
A personal museum in Roxborough
Back in his Roxborough home, Taggart has turned a portion of his house into a personal museum dedicated to the events of Sept. 11. The collection includes the hard hat he wore at the site, a World Trade Center subway sign, and hundreds of photographs he captured during the response. The images document both the scale of the destruction and the camaraderie of police officers and firefighters who worked side‑by‑side in the days that followed.
Taggart’s home‑based exhibit serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by first responders, many of whom have since suffered illnesses linked to exposure to dust and debris at the site. He expressed ongoing concern that another tragedy of similar magnitude could happen again, noting, “You know it’s going to happen again. It’s surprising that it hasn’t.”
Life after the badge
Today, Taggart works for Action News as a weekend overnight assignment editor, bringing his decades of law‑enforcement experience to the newsroom. While he has witnessed countless major incidents during his career, he says nothing compares to the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Taggart’s story offers Philadelphia readers a personal connection to a national tragedy, highlighting the bravery of local officers who answered the call and the lasting impact of their service.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
