Watch CBS News

PBA President: More Cops Have Died From 9/11 After-Effects Than In Attacks

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Twelve years after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the death toll has continued to grow.

As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported Monday, New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said many police officers are sick and dying from illnesses they contracted that day at the World Trade Center site.

PBA President: More Cops Have Died From 9/11 After-Effects Than In Attacks

"We've lost more police officers from medical effects of September 11 than we did on that very day," Lynch said, "and that's going to continue for many, many years to come."

Lynch said while the union has succeeded in getting medical monitoring and the Zadroga Act passed, funding from Washington remains a fight.

Still, Lynch said even with the debris cloud taking its toll, the city's finest would go right back in if such an attack were to happen again.

"The truth of the matter is police officers are still going to respond," he said. "It's what we do."

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.