Health & Financial Relief for Connecticut 9/11 First Responders

The Police Officers Association of Connecticut, with the Stamford Police Association hosted a conference in Stamford to spotlight the 68 cancers, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases that responders and others were exposed to at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The event was designed to guide Connecticut responders to file for the World Trade Center Health Program and Victim Compensation Fund.

Police leaders are encouraging senior officers and retirees or their families to act, especially given the terribly fatal impact of the Covid-19 virus on 9/11 community members.

9/11 legal advocate Michael Barasch led the meeting, as he represents more than 20,000 9/11 community survivors.

Mr. Barasch, of Greenwich, was the attorney for NYPD Detective James Zadroga, for whom the federal health and victim’s compensation law was named. Zadroga’s autopsy found his body was filled with carcinogens including asbestos, benzene, ground glass and more, with the toxicity of Drano.

Hundreds of thousands of others, including first responders and other volunteers from Connecticut who were in Lower Manhattan on 9/11 and in the eight months that followed, were exposed to the same toxic air and are potentially eligible for healthcare and compensation.

“Many Connecticut residents commute to New York City daily for their jobs. When the terrorists attacked, our state’s first responders knew they must stand united with the NYPD, FDNY, Port Authority Police, in the search for survivors as the underground fires burned for 99 consecutive days,” said Florencio Cotto, President of POACT and of the New Haven Police Elm City Local.

He continued, “We can never leave a sister or brother behind, and now 20 years later, we must look out for our fellow officers, civilians and the widows and children of those that responded to the attacks but have still not registered with the WTC Health and Compensation Program.”

Kris Engstrand, Vice President of POACT and President of the Stamford Police Association, said, “First responders are trained to protect the lives of others. Countless police, National Guard, and civilians volunteered at our nation’s urgent time of need. Since then, many have become seriously ill with related cancers, stomach, respiratory, and lung diseases. Today POACT is putting out a warning to say to all in Connecticut, if you have not already registered, there is little time remaining.”

The search, rescue, cleanup, and recovery operation took place from September 11, until May 31, 2002. During that period, an estimated 500,000 people were in Lower Manhattan – defined as south of Canal Street - either as first responders, volunteers, or living, working, or going to school.

It is believed that there were 300,000+ office workers, 100,000 responders, 50,000 students and teachers and 25,000 downtown residents exposed.

Though the federal health and compensation programs were extended in 2019 for 70 years, there are strict deadlines for registering. Thousands of people missed an original deadline to register a wrongful death claim related to the attacks. They now have until the July deadline.

Mr. Barasch said, “Comprised of 21 of the largest police agencies in Connecticut, POACT is focused on making sure that active and retired police officers, as well as the widows and children of those who have already lost their lives because of 9/11, are not forgotten. I encourage everyone who is eligible not to wait. Register and qualify for the free healthcare and compensation available.” He is Senior Partner in the New York law firm, Barasch & McGarry.

The group’s membership is comprised of individuals from law enforcement organizations across 21 different municipalities, including Berlin, Bristol, Cheshire, Cromwell, Danbury, Greenwich, Hartford, Manchester, Milford, New Haven, Newtown, Naugatuck, South Windsor, Southington, Stamford, Waterbury, Watertown, West Hartford, as well as AFSCME’s Council 4 Public Safety Chapter.

For more information to see if you qualify or to view the event please click here.