Community Corner

Born on 9/11, this Santa Cruz Cop Will Spend His 50th in NYC With Fallen Officers' Families

For 10 years, Sgt. Erik Swannack has ignored his birthday, because of the national tragedy. This year, his 50th, will be different.

Santa Cruz police Sgt. Erik Swannack was depressed about turning 40 a decade ago, on Sept. 11, 2001. He was feeling sorry for himself, not happy about aging.

Then he saw the national tragedy that was 9/11 unfold, and something inside snapped to attention. His problems were suddenly tiny.

The day inspired him to help others, including the families of fallen New York City officers.

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"I never felt like I could celebrate my birthday," said the cop, who put off his retirement this year for six days, so he could make the trip to New York in uniform, just like he did in 2002. "These people lost so much. Nothing I know compares to that."

Immediately after the tragedy, Swannack and his best friend and fellow officer, Mike Pruger, and their friend, Carrie Dianda McCoid, raised $22,000 for families of fallen officers.

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The three had worked yearly on an event called Hot Rods at the Beach to raise money for local kids scholarships, but decided that year that the money should go to scholarships for children of officers and firefighters who died at the towers.

The two officers flew to New York on Sept. 11, 2002, to present it in person to the Silver Shield Foundation, the charity started by George Steinbrenner.

While they were at Ground Zero, they saw a man trying to put up a picture of his son—a firefighter killed in the buildings—on a wall as a memorial. When he saw the man had nothing to post it with, Pruger gave him his Santa Cruz Police tie tack. It worked.

They bonded instantly, and Pruger and the man, John Napolitano, a retired New York City police officer, have stayed in touch ever since, visiting and talking often.

Napolitano invited both cops back to New York this year to visit the 9/11 memorial as members of his family. For both of them, it was a way to get some closure.

"Erik and I decided years ago that on this anniversary, we would go back," said Pruger, now a Santa Cruz sheriff's deputy. "Now that they got the mastermind, bin Laden, we have something to be grateful for. This year, for the first time, we'll celebrate his birthday."

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