"Meet Jillian Suarez, daughter of Police Officer Ramon Suarez who was killed on 9/11 while rescuing victims trapped in the World Trade Center," the NYPD said on Facebook. Image: NYPD / Facebook.
Jillian Suarez had just turned nine years old when her father—45-year-old cop Ramon Suarez—ran three times into the North Tower of the World Trade Center to save individuals from the smoke-filled building.
Her father perished that terrible day—along with hundreds of other police officers, firefighters, and EMTs who responded to that emergency—but not before rescuing an asthmatic woman and a seven-months-pregnant mother-to-be.
Suarez's partner—Mark Ellis—also died in the response.
However, Jillian Suarez is now Officer Suarez, continuing her father's determination to serve the community, according to the New York Post.
"Meet Jillian Suarez, daughter of Police Officer Ramon Suarez who was killed on 9/11 while rescuing victims trapped in the World Trade Center," the NYPD posted on Facebook. "Last Thursday, Jillian stood shoulder to shoulder with 270 police recruits as they took the Oath of Honor at the Police Academy."
The department's social media post concluded, "Join us in saying thank you to her for making this choice to join the NYPD."
"I've always loved law enforcement, but obviously when my dad had passed away, I realized that I wanted to follow his footsteps, and I want to continue the legacy," Suarez told the Post.
Suarez will wear her father's shield number 12671.
