Photo credit: Jin S. Lee
Accession Number: C.2013.310.1
Dimensions: 7 in X 9.5 in X 11.5 in
Dimensions (Metric): 17.78 cm X 24.13 cm X 29.21 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 17.78 cm X 24.13 cm X 29.21 cm
Source: Ismael Quinones
Credit Line: Gift of NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent Ismael Quinones
Keywords
Evacuation
First Responders
Health Effects
New York City Police Department (NYPD)
Survivors
Witnesses
Evacuation
First Responders
Health Effects
New York City Police Department (NYPD)
Survivors
Witnesses
Description
Blue and black traffic helmet with a black leather chin strap. The helmet is covered in scratches and traces of dust. The inside of the helmet contains hard foam to protect the wearer from head trauma. A small badge-shaped commemorative decal is glued to the front of the helmet with text that reads: "All Gave Some | NYPD | Some Gave All." A large American flag sticker is on the back of the helmet.
Blue and black traffic helmet with a black leather chin strap. The helmet is covered in scratches and traces of dust. The inside of the helmet contains hard foam to protect the wearer from head trauma. A small badge-shaped commemorative decal is glued to the front of the helmet with text that reads: "All Gave Some | NYPD | Some Gave All." A large American flag sticker is on the back of the helmet.
Historical Notes
NYPD Traffic Enforcement Officer Ismael Quinones wore this helmet as part of his uniform. On 9/11, Quinones was handling traffic control in lower Manhattan around the World Trade Center when he witnessed the terrorist attack, assisted with the evacuation, and survived the collapse of Twin Towers. He remained on the scene throughout the afternoon, helping to search for other survivors.
NYPD Traffic Enforcement Officer Ismael Quinones wore this helmet as part of his uniform. On 9/11, Quinones was handling traffic control in lower Manhattan around the World Trade Center when he witnessed the terrorist attack, assisted with the evacuation, and survived the collapse of Twin Towers. He remained on the scene throughout the afternoon, helping to search for other survivors.
Curator's Comment
Quinones reported to his command station on the Lower East Side early in the morning on September 11, 2001. His routine patrol involved traffic control around the perimeter of lower Manhattan from Vesey Street to the Battery Tunnel. While stalled on his scooter at a red light on the corner of Cortlandt and Church Streets, Quinones heard the roar of a jet engine. When he looked up, he saw a very low-flying plane. Immediately, he reached for his radio and reported the anomaly to police headquarters. As he was describing what he was witnessing to his colleague, the plane tore into the upper floors of the North Tower.
Quinones immediately began directing stunned onlookers and an early wave of evacuees to flee the area while simultaneously transfixed by the scene he was witnessing. Suddenly, a roaring sound grew louder behind him, and he watched as a second plane struck the adjacent South Tower.
Quinones recalled that the scene on the street outside the North Tower, already chaotic, instantly rose to a heightened level of mayhem. People were screaming as debris fell onto the streets. Quinones continued to assist civilians and law enforcement colleagues as best he could until the South Tower began to collapse, creating a dust cloud so massive that he assumed the pair of skyscrapers were falling simultaneously.
Paralyzed by fear and unable to bring himself to run, Quinones was hit by a piece of falling debris. He curled up on the street as the dust cloud enveloped him, blackening his surroundings. When he could, he felt his way over to the sidewalk and crawled to the Century 21 clothing store, eventually maneuvering his way inside the store.
After the dust began to subside, Quinones emerged from Century 21 to help search for trapped survivors in the immediate vicinity. He remained at Ground Zero until the mid-afternoon, when he was taken to the hospital to treat the injuries he sustained during the buildings' collapse. After Quinones returned to work in the days following the attacks, he was re-assigned to patrol the Chinatown area. Much to his surprise, his NYPD scooter had been recovered from lower Manhattan and was returned to him, still functioning.
In November of 2012, Quinones retired on disability, capping his NYPD career after 18 years of service in the traffic division. He is currently suffering from health effects triggered by his exposure on 9/11.
HIDE
Quinones reported to his command station on the Lower East Side early in the morning on September 11, 2001. His routine patrol involved traffic control around the perimeter of lower Manhattan from Vesey Street to the Battery Tunnel. While stalled on his scooter at a red light on the corner of Cortlandt and Church Streets, Quinones heard the roar of a jet engine. When he looked up, he saw a very low-flying plane. Immediately, he reached for his radio and reported the anomaly to police headquarters. As he was describing what he was witnessing to his colleague, the plane tore into the upper floors of the North Tower.
Quinones immediately began directing stunned onlookers and an early wave of evacuees to flee the area while simultaneously transfixed by the scene he was witnessing. Suddenly, a roaring sound grew louder behind him, and he watched as a second plane struck the adjacent South Tower.
Quinones recalled that the scene on the street outside the North Tower, already chaotic, instantly rose to a heightened level of mayhem. People were screaming as debris fell onto the streets. Quinones continued to assist civilians and law enforcement colleagues as best he could until the South Tower began to collapse, creating a dust cloud so massive that he assumed the pair of skyscrapers were falling simultaneously.
Paralyzed by fear and unable to bring himself to run, Quinones was hit by a piece of falling debris. He curled up on the street as the dust cloud enveloped him, blackening his surroundings. When he could, he felt his way over to the sidewalk and crawled to the Century 21 clothing store, eventually maneuvering his way inside the store.
After the dust began to subside, Quinones emerged from Century 21 to help search for trapped survivors in the immediate vicinity. He remained at Ground Zero until the mid-afternoon, when he was taken to the hospital to treat the injuries he sustained during the buildings' collapse. After Quinones returned to work in the days following the attacks, he was re-assigned to patrol the Chinatown area. Much to his surprise, his NYPD scooter had been recovered from lower Manhattan and was returned to him, still functioning.
In November of 2012, Quinones retired on disability, capping his NYPD career after 18 years of service in the traffic division. He is currently suffering from health effects triggered by his exposure on 9/11.
HIDE
