134: Corrections At Ground Zero - Interview w/Phil Rizzo & Richard Palmer

Two careers in the NYC Department of Correction put Phil Rizzo and Richard Palmer Jr. in the middle of September 11 from angles most people never hear about: Rikers Island security, emergency deployment into Lower Manhattan, and the unglamorous logistics that made the Ground Zero operation possible. We talk through what it felt like to watch the towers burn and fall, then step into ash, heat, and rubble with little protective equipment and a job that suddenly expanded far beyond jail walls. If you think “9/11 responders” only means a few agencies, this conversation will change your picture of that day.We also pull back the curtain on the DOC work that rarely makes headlines: helping stand up the Stuyvesant High School command post, running generators and supply convoys, supporting the boat lift that moved thousands by water, staffing the morgue operation, and sending teams to the Staten Island landfill for months. The department kept jails running while rotating hundreds of uniformed and civilian staff through 24-7 recovery efforts, a scale that surprises even experienced corrections professionals.Then we get into the aftermath that still isn’t over: cancers, long-term illness, and the brutal fight for health care and benefits. Phil and Rich explain why correction officers were overlooked, how rosters and affidavits became lifelines, what it took to push the Zadroga Act and funding extensions, and why private insurance and workers’ comp rules left many responders stuck in the middle. If “never forget” is going to mean anything, it has to include the people who kept showing up after the cameras left.Subscribe for more real stories from the profession, share this with someone who still thinks corrections is out of sight and out of mind, and leave a review with the moment that hit you hardest.Richard Palmer Email: [email protected] Voice United - https://onevoiceunited.org/Tunnels to Towers Foundation - https://t2t.org/National September 11 Memorial & Museum - https://www.911memorial.org/   ======================Visit Our Sponsors======================This podcast is sponsored by Command Presence Training https://www.commandpresence.net/Command Presence educates and empowers people everywhere, so they can serve the public.= = = = = = = = = = = = = Support the Show= = = = = = = = = = = = =NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's JourneyBuy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tRAvailable worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJusticePOWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and BeyondAvailable on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5See Michael's books and author updates at: www.CantrellWrites.com🎙️ Support The Prison Officer PodcastGo deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get:• Exclusive content • Behind-the-scenes insights • Leadership discussions • Bonus episodes and resources👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficerContact me: [email protected] Me a Cup of Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mikemlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficerLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/theprisonofficerTake care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!#prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcastSend us Fan Mail Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's JourneyBuy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tRAvailable worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJusticePOWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and BeyondAvailable on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5See Michael's books and author updates at: www.CantrellWrites.com🎙️ Support The Prison Officer PodcastGo deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get:• Exclusive content • Behind-the-scenes insights • Leadership discussions • Bonus episodes and resources👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer📬 Connect with MichaelEmail: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficerWebsite: www.theprisonofficer.comTake care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences.#prisonofficerpodcast ...