EP37: From Jersey State Trooper to PAPD Superintendent: Edward Cetnar's 9/11 Journey
In this episode of the Muster Room Podcast, we are joined by Port Authority Police Department Superintendent Edward Cetnar at the base of One World Trade Center. Superintendent Cetnar shares his law enforcement journey, starting as a New Jersey State Trooper in 1987, where he served on the tactical patrol unit and the Technical Emergency Mission Specialist (TEAMS) unit, the state's go-to SWAT and heavy rescue team. He was immediately deployed to New York City on 9/11 and spent 17 straight days working on the pile. He even performed counter-terrorism raids in New Jersey in between shifts at Ground Zero.
Superintendent Cetnar explains how his experience with major events, such as Hurricane Sandy and the planning for the MetLife Super Bowl in 2014, ultimately led him to the Port Authority Police Department. He became the Deputy Superintendent and has served as the Superintendent since 2018, leading a force of over 2,300 officers across two states. He describes the Port Authority's unique responsibilities, which include securing airports, bridges, tunnels, the Port of New York and New Jersey, and the Path train system.
Superintendent Cetnar reveals that he has stage four cancer as a result of his time at Ground Zero. Despite the immense personal toll, he states he would never change what he did that day. He believes it was his purpose to be there on 9/11 and to now lead the agency that was so deeply impacted. He takes his mission personally, ensuring the World Trade Center campus is a safe environment for the families of the fallen to visit and that the legacy of the 37 Port Authority police officers who died that day is never forgotten.
Superintendent Cetnar shares how the Port Authority Police Department has more than doubled in size since 9/11, from just over 900 officers to over 2,300 today. He talks about the agency's commitment to educating every incoming class of recruits on the history of 9/11, the 1993 bombing, and the 1970s hijacking. He started a new tradition of holding a badge ceremony at the memorial, and the day before graduation, he reminds them of the significance of the "37" on their sleeve, which honors the officers who gave their lives. This powerful message, along with the Port Authority's unwavering commitment to its mission, ensures that the sacrifices of 9/11 will never be forgotten.
