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Public Safety Long Term Personnel Issues

2007 May 25 Posted by Joseph Pascarella

The New York Times reported yesterday that the New York City (NYC) Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that dust from the World Trade Center on the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks resulted in the death of a woman, Ms. Felicia Dunn-Jones, that had worked in the World Trade Center that day and escaped from the attacks. Ms. Dunn-Jones developed a respiratory illness and died in 2002 five months after the attack. According to the NYC Medical Examiner’s Office, Ms. Dunn-Jones should be considered a homicide victim.

This is significant in the time period that has elapsed from the attacks on September 11, 2001, Ms. Dunn-Jones death in 2002 and the ruling over five (5) years later. This is also significant in the potential impact for Public Safety first and second responders. The contemporary threats and dangers that Public Safety face include very complicated long-term personnel issues such as long term health effects that are not easily resolved.

Take care and be safe.

Joe Pascarella

May 25, 2007 | Filed under: Capella, Capella University, Law enforcement, New York Times, Public Safety Signals, Public safety, Sept. 11, World Trade Center
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5 Responses to “Public Safety Long Term Personnel Issues”

Latrivia Nelson Says:

Dr. Pascarella,

I have a quick question? Considering that she has been declared a homicide victim, will there be any 9/11 funding sent to her family? This is very interesting for me. The terrorists are still killing victims of 9/11 long after their suicides.

Thanks for the information.

Latrivia Nelson

May 27th, 2007 at 2:46 pm

George Greader Says:

Dr Pascarella

If in fact Ms Felicia Dunn-Jones is classified as a Homicide Victim, it basically then poses the next question at ‘who hands’. The Homicide classification generally means that one dies by ‘other than their own hands.’ So, at who hands did she die? Who killed Felicia Dunn-Jones? Other then the attackers themselves, could various government agencies be the responsible parties?

May 28th, 2007 at 10:06 pm

John Means Says:

Ms. Dunn-Jones died at the hand of another, the hijackers. The disease is the result of their actions and their intent is transferred to her. She is really no different than those who chose to jump or were killed when the building collapsed. I don’t know if New York limits the amount of time after the original act, and before the death to make it a homicide. Maybe you could help us out Dr. Pascarella

June 2nd, 2007 at 3:34 pm

Joseph Pascarella Says:

Latrivia,

Thanks for the post and that is a great questions. The article stated that Victim Compensation Fund was closed and there probably is no precedent, so this is something that may have to be determined.

Dr. Joe

June 3rd, 2007 at 4:02 am

Joseph Pascarella Says:

George,

Thanks for the post and that is an interesting issue.

Medical Examiners are usually very broad in determining cause whereas it is the domain of law enforcement to link an offender (s).

Joseph Pascarella

June 3rd, 2007 at 4:04 am

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