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Remembering Apollo: NYPD K-9 Hero of 9/11 Ground Zero Rescue

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6 months ago

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On the morning of September 11, 2001, Apollo, a German Shepherd with the NYPD’s K-9 Unit, was set to receive an award for excellence in service. Instead, he ran headfirst into history.

Just minutes after the collapse of the Twin Towers, Apollo and his handler, Officer Peter Davis, arrived at Ground Zero—making him the first search-and-rescue dog on site. Amid smoke, twisted steel, and waist-deep debris-filled water, Apollo began searching for life in the rubble.

At one point, a fireball and falling debris engulfed him. By chance, moments earlier, he had fallen into a water-filled hole—soaking his fur and likely saving his life. Officer Davis brushed off the embers, and without hesitation, Apollo returned to work.

With singed fur and cracked paw pads, Apollo continued tirelessly alongside first responders, a steady, fearless presence amid unprecedented devastation. His work in those crucial early hours—and in the days that followed—made him an enduring symbol of devotion and courage.

A National Symbol of Bravery

In recognition of his service, Apollo was later awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, often referred to as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. The award was given not just to honor Apollo, but on behalf of all the working dogs who searched tirelessly through the rubble of Ground Zero.

“He wasn’t just a dog doing a job—he was a partner, a hero, and a symbol of resilience,” said an NYPD spokesperson during a memorial held in his honor.

A Legacy That Lives On

Apollo’s legacy continues to inspire K-9 units across the country. Each year on 9/11, officers and handlers remember not just the human toll, but the canine heroes who worked side-by-side with them—without question, without fear.

The story of Apollo reminds us of the many forms that heroism can take—and the silent, loyal figures who often work in the background during our darkest hours.

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Police/Fire/EMS

Second-Alarm House Fire Damages Home on Birch Road in Sloatsburg

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1 day ago

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March 9, 2026

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SLOATSBURG, NY — A second-alarm house fire caused heavy damage to a home on Birch Road in Sloatsburg on Sunday afternoon, prompting a large emergency response from multiple fire departments across Rockland County and neighboring New Jersey.

Fire crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3:45 p.m. after reports of a structure fire at the residence. According to officials, the fire began in a second-floor bedroom and quickly spread into the attic and hallway.

The blaze was quickly upgraded to a second-alarm response as firefighters worked to bring the fire under control. Crews were able to knock down the main body of the fire in about 30 minutes.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Sloatsburg Fire Department, Suffern Fire Department, Hillburn Fire Department, Mahwah Fire Department, Spring Hill EMS, Faist EMS, and the Town of Ramapo Police Department.

Authorities reported that no civilian injuries occurred during the incident. During the response, a firefighter rescued a dog that had run back into the burning home.

Despite the quick response from emergency crews, the home sustained significant damage and the family was displaced.

Officials say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Police/Fire/EMS

Ramapo Police Respond to Inaccurate WPDH Report About Hudson Valley Police Activity

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3 days ago

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March 8, 2026

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RAMAPO, NY — The Ramapo Police Department is addressing what officials say was inaccurate reporting in a recent social media post by 101.5 WPDH regarding police activity on a Hudson Valley street.

According to Ramapo Police, the WPDH headline described the situation as “chaos” and suggested there had been an “oopsie” or a “mistake by police.” Officials say those descriptions do not reflect what actually occurred.

Police said officers responded to the location after being notified by a county agency conducting an inspection that had identified suspicious-looking fluids. Because officers are not chemical experts, the Rockland County Hazardous Materials Team was requested to respond and evaluate the substance in accordance with standard public safety protocols.

Authorities said the response was precautionary and followed established procedures used when an unknown substance is encountered.

“There was no chaos, no mistake by police, and no misunderstanding,” officials said in a statement. “The response was calm, controlled, and precautionary.”

Police also noted that weather conditions at the time included periods of heavy rainfall, which resulted in minimal pedestrian activity in the area.

Officials emphasized that calling in trained hazardous materials specialists is the appropriate response when officers encounter a potential chemical hazard.

The department added that while officers are committed to protecting public safety, accurate reporting is important when describing emergency responses.

“Public safety deserves accuracy, not sensationalism,” the department said.

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