Jeremy Lynn, the Detention Division captain with the Greene County Sheriff's Office, remembers the laced curtains in his home blowing in the wind amid a clear blue sky as he turned on his TV to see the planes hit the towers of the World Trade Center on an equally sunny day in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. A deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, he had finished a night shift hours before and felt helpless as the country went still in fear.
"Everybody anticipated the next attack because for about 45 minutes they just kept coming," Lynn said. "So, everything was a fear factor moving forward for quite some time, and it really created a whole new universal human phobia."
On the flip side of that fear was also a newfound patriotism. Lynn
recalls the calming effect of President George W. Bush's bullhorn address at Ground Zero on Sept. 14, 2001. The speech, for Lynn, shifted the tone from one of fear to one of attack, in the name of defending the country.
In the days that followed, he said, the Polk County Sheriff's Office patrolled the area looking for anything out of place, anything that could be used for explosives. More attention was also spent thinking about community assets that could have more national significance or could be targeted based on different motives.
In the 25 years since 9/11, Lynn said the field of law enforcement has become more proactive rather than reactive to threats. Now, law enforcement agencies prepare for all possibilities, setting plans for response before anything happens. He also noted the creation of fusion centers as a result of the attacks, which allow local, state and federal agencies to share threat-related information.
Throughout his career, Lynn has also noticed the perception of law enforcement change with these large-scale events. He said public sentiment can be like a pendulum that swings between distrust of police to times of greater respect and confidence in law enforcement. After 9/11, which killed a record number of law enforcement officers in a single event, there was tremendous support of first responders, he said. Since the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, the tone has shifted the other way.
With younger generations, who did not witness 9/11, joining the field, Lynn said there is a sense of responsibility to carry on the memories of the tragic event.
"The history of it can't ever be forgotten or lost, and I think that's one of the most important things that those of us that were alive during that timeframe have to remember," he said.
Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Greene County Sheriff's captain reflects on 25th anniversary of 9/11
