Dedicate WLB police building to 9/11 heroes

I have been very pleased to see the progress being made by Mayor Janet Tucci and our Borough Council on the new police building for West Long Branch.

In 2006, I attended a council meeting during which some of our police officers expressed concerns about the condition of the current building. The council has been very responsive to these concerns and now has presented a plan to meet the needs of the officers and the town. I feel that it is important to provide a safe working environment for our local police officers since they keep us safe and put their lives on the line for us every day.

I am not certain as to whether any consideration has been given to a dedication for the police building. If not, I would like to offer the following: On 9/11, 343 New York City firemen, 37 Port Authority policemen and 23 New York City police officers died while saving lives at the World Trade Center.

These 403 men and women set an incredibly heroic example for all of us by giving their lives in the service of others.

One of these heroes was a man named Officer Alfonse J. Niedermeyer III, who was a friend I grew up with in Queens, N.Y.

Later in life, Al moved to New Jersey to make a life here with his wife and children, and on 9/11 became one of the 37 Port Authority officers who made a decision to do his job in the face of incredible danger and on one of the most tragic days in American history. By so doing, Al gave us hope and showed us that the human spirit is capable of virtually anything.

I have not forgotten Al or any of these men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. I think it would be fitting tribute to dedicate our new building to these Americans who have left an indelible and unforgettable impression on all of our lives.

Joseph G. Hughes

West Long Branch