The Bravest Finest &

By SHAWNA GALLAGHER VEGA

Generations of Xavier’s Sons have put life and limb on the line for their fellow New Yorkers, inspired, most say, by the Jesuit call to be men for others. Today, those who number among New York’s Bravest and Finest draw courage from those who came before them, and from those who gave their lives for their city—men like Jimmy Riches ’89 and James Coyle ’93, firefighters lost at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Their work has never been more complicated, but arguably never more important.

t all goes back to Xavier’s focus on leadership and sacrifice. If those are your north stars, you’ll naturally gravitate towards a career of service,” NYPD Deputy Chief Joseph Seminara ’99 said of the long Xavier-FDNY-NYPD connection. “From the moment I walked through the doors on 16th Street, I realized I was part of something bigger than myself.”

Over the course of his career, Seminara has served in a variety of assignments, from patrol to intelligence to leadership. Counterterrorism investigations have sent him to Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Canada, and Australia, but he often draws on lessons learned in Tijuana in the summer of 1998, when he and several classmates built a school and installed drainage systems on Xavier’s first-ever Companions of St. Francis Xavier trip. “As a student at Xavier, the men for others mindset permeates everything you do,” he said. “The school’s constant emphasis on service and sacrifice made me the person I am today.”

Countless Sons of Xavier serving in the FDNY and NYPD expressed similar sentiments.

“What is learned and experienced at Xavier in terms of both the education and prioritization of service aligns seamlessly with the mission of the FDNY. There is a kind of unique understanding of empathy that is taught at Xavier through programs like Kairos, CFX, and others, which I believe also drives a lot of Xavier alums to work as first responders,” said Firefighter Frank Nugent ’15, who graduated from the FDNY Academy last summer. “Aside from the values of service, integrity, and compassion that Xavier instilled, there was a great amount that I learned from the sports that I played as well. I didn’t realize how much teamwork was involved in firefighting before I entered the service, but the Academy and firehouse made it very clear how needed every person and their role is in every situation that we face.”

NYPD Lieutenant Jordan Castro ’97, a 17-year veteran of the force, echoed Nugent. “At Xavier, you are called to serve,” he said. “You develop all these tremendously useful attributes and grow into a formidable person able to take on all that life throws your way. As a cop, you go into the belly of the beast. Whether it’s a shots-fired call or a violent, emotionally disturbed person, that confidence in oneself enables you to run into it, with a clear mind, and resolve it as swiftly as possible. You ignore the dangers to ensure that others don’t fall victim to it. With smarts, courage, empathy, compassion, and faith in God, you have all the tools necessary to become a police officer. Xavier cultivates all of that in young men, and that’s why the transition to a career in law enforcement is so intuitive.”

As a senior at Xavier, NYPD Sergeant Sean Finnerty ’00 came to a deeply personal understanding of what it means to be other- centered. In the summer of 1999, he was diagnosed with cancer, and his doctor warned that extensive treatments would likely prevent him from graduating on time. “The administration, teachers, and fellow students made sure they did everything possible to make my senior year as smooth as possible, taking into account what I had accomplished in my first three years. Coach McGrane went above and beyond by placing me on the varsity [basketball] roster, knowing I could not physically try out or play during the season. My experience senior year really showed me what it is to help other people in their time of need,” said Finnerty, who assists his fellow employees each day through his labor relations role. “I believe that gave me the drive to want to help others.”

NYPD Deputy Inspector William

Gallagher ’95, a 23-year veteran of the force, said he still feels the impact of his teachers at Xavier, particularly his debate coaches John McGoldrick, Marc Roselli, S.J., and the late Vincent Butler, S.J. “I am extremely grateful and very proud to be a Xavier alum,” he said. “I have always felt tremendous gratitude to my parents for making the decision to send me to Xavier.”

Chief Matthew Pontillo ’84, who as the NYPD’s Chief of Risk Management is the department’s highest-ranking Xavier alumnus, has been on the job since 1986. He’s watched the city evolve and encountered plenty of Sons of Xavier, including former Police Commissioner Dermot Shea ’86 and his brother, Jimmy Shea ’79, whom Pontillo succeeded as commander of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Droves of Xavier alumni in the FDNY and NYPD said they felt driven to serve by the memory of those who gave their lives for the city on 9/11, like Kevin Dowdell; by those who sacrificed so much to help the city recover, like Pat Steffens; and by their 10 Xavier brothers whose lives were cut short at the World Trade Center.

Almost to a man, Pontillo said, his fellow alumni share essential characteristics.

“The Xavier alumni I know in the department share a commitment to service and a belief in the greater good. Xavier builds young men who are incisive, worldly, and resilient,” he said. “Xavier graduates have made significant contributions to the department and the city as a whole.”

Alumni of a certain era point to another nearly universal inspiration for their FDNY and NYPD service: September 11, 2001.

Few have a deeper connection to 9/11 than Firefighter James Dowdell ’02. He was days into his senior year at Xavier when his father, FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Dowdell P’01 ’02, ran into the South Tower of the World Trade Center and never came home.

His older brother, Patrick ’01, had always wanted to go to West Point. (He eventually graduated from the Military Academy in 2006.) James had always wanted to be a fireman, just like his dad.

“After my father died, it just kind of solidified what we wanted to do,” James Dowdell said. “We really were focused on staying that course.”

Throughout the turbulent months following 9/11, Dowdell said he took refuge at Xavier—a place where he saw service to others made real, and where his father had been so proud to send his sons.

“He took immense pride in the fact that he worked really hard and sent his boys to Xavier,” Dowdell recalled of his dad, who operated a hardwood flooring business on the side to support his family. “He would come meet us in the city after school on Fridays. We’d take advantage of being in the city. He loved that.”

Dowdell joined the FDNY in January 2006 and now works at his father’s old firehouse, Rescue 2 in Brooklyn. He is proud to follow in his footsteps, which he now understands with greater clarity.

“Your goal as a fireman is to show up and improve someone’s worst day,” he said. “It’s our job to go there blindly, help put out the fire, make sure everyone’s out safely, protect as much life and property as possible. The worst part, and I saw it firsthand, is how much it can affect your family in a negative way if things don’t work out.”

After 9/11, NYPD Lieutenant Patrick

Steffens ’88 P’11 ’12 ’16 ’20 gave a particularly tragic form of service to his city when he was assigned to the temporary morgue at the corner of Vesey and West Streets. “We were trying to identify bodies that came into our tent so we could give families some closure,” recalled Steffens, who is now the Counterterrorism Lieutenant for Patrol Borough Brooklyn North. He drew on lessons he learned from his family and at Xavier for strength. “I was taught by my parents and encouraged by them to always help someone in need, and after attending Xavier, the motto that still lives with me today is to be a man for others.”

Droves of Xavier alumni in the FDNY and NYPD said they felt driven to serve by the memory of those who gave their lives for the city, like Kevin Dowdell; those who sacrificed so much to help the city recover, like Steffens; and by their 10 Xavier brothers whose lives were cut short at the World Trade Center.

“Like many people my age, that Tuesday morning was a life-altering moment,” Seminara said. “Xavier prepared us as young men to serve if needed, and 9/11 was the call to action. Many of us decided that day to become cops and firefighters. Many of my brothers took it a step further and joined the military. Some of them never came home. We should thank God every day that these brave men existed, and we must never forget their sacrifice. I am honored and humbled to have walked the same halls as them.”

Firefighter Thomas Leonard ’03, who comes from a long line of teachers, police officers, and members of the military, felt a similar call to action. “I was a junior at Xavier on September 11. There were so many Xavier families directly affected by the event,” he remembered. “We looked up to those people who had given everything that day and in the following months and years. In one way or another that experience had a huge impact on all of us. I wanted to be part of the solution in some way down the road.”

Liam O’Hara ’04, a detective with the NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad, added:

“I was a sophomore at Xavier on the morning of September 11, 2001. Before that, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life. That day, watching everything unfold, I felt totally helpless. I wanted to go down to Ground Zero that day and do something, anything … but I was 15 years old. There was nothing I could do. I didn’t know I’d end up as a cop, but I knew I never wanted to feel helpless like that again.”

Seven years later, O’Hara, who has law enforcement in his blood (his grandfather, Thomas O’Hara ’43 P’69, served in the NYPD in the 1940s before moving on to a career with the FBI), became a police officer.

“Xavier itself didn’t necessarily lead to me becoming a cop, but it helped instill in me a sense of pride in the city,” he said. “When you go to Xavier, you’re part of a tradition that goes back to before the Civil War. Xavier has been a New York institution through wars, terrorist attacks, riots, natural disasters, crime waves, and pandemics. It has stood the test of time. When you receive your diploma at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, you’re a part of that, and you always will be.”

Today, the men and women of the FDNY and NYPD work at a complicated crossroads in the history of New York City. COVID-19, anti-police protests, and rising crime have made the last three years exceptionally difficult for both agencies.

Ifeanyi Emeh ’17, an NYPD patrol officer in Brooklyn, became interested in a law enforcement career during the protests that followed the 2020 death of George Floyd. “There was rising tension between the community and our local law enforcement. I want to build trust within my community and change the narrative by being on the front line,” Emeh said. “At Xavier, I was taught to be inclusive and how to engage with people from many different walks of life. These beliefs have shaped me into the officer I am now.”

“The most difficult thing that police officers contend with, aside from the physical danger, is the erosion of public trust that comes anytime an officer anywhere in the country violates their oath. This sets all of us back and undermines public and officer safety,” said Matthew Pontillo, who as the NYPD’s chief risk and compliance officer is charged with identifying risks to the department. “Policing is nothing like when you are able to make a difference in someone’s life all the more meaningful.”

Making a difference has sustained Liam O’Hara in his challenging work with the Human Trafficking Squad, a city-wide unit that primarily investigates sex trafficking. Most of his cases involve minors.

Frank Nugent infuses similar lessons into his work with the FDNY. “What truly sticks with me in my life and career right now,” he said, “are the core values that Xavier taught me: working in service of others and being compassionate toward the needs of all people, even those who are different from you or you don’t agree with.” what you may see on television or video, whether good or bad. The truth is much more complicated. Police officers do a very difficult job and make many sacrifices in their lives doing that job. We often have to deal with people who are experiencing the worst possible moment of their lives. Many people in this city have only the police to turn to in times of crisis or need. Police officers, who are fallible, are then inserted into that dynamic mix. These challenges and uncertainty make those moments

Their veteran colleagues, while battlehardened, remain hopeful that their sincere efforts will help rebuild the city—and public trust in their efforts.

“We don’t just investigate trafficking, build cases, and make arrests—although that is a big, and important, part of it,” said O’Hara, who often refers to himself as a social worker with a gun. “We also connect the victims with the resources that they need. We have gotten victims immigration visas, housing, jobs, helped them get into new schools or programs. ... I once drove a victim and her social worker to the hospital so she could receive a surgery that she had actually needed for many years. Prior to working with her, she had no health insurance and no support network to help her undergo this huge procedure. This was after I had arrested her trafficker. Even though we had already indicted and collared the trafficker, we were still a part of her life. I was really proud to have helped her with more than just the criminal investigation.

“I can’t complain about my life or my career, but the last few years have been … weird,” O’Hara continued. “It’s hard to pour your blood, sweat, and tears into doing what you think is the right thing, and then turn around and hear from politicians or the media or even people you know that actually, you are the problem. But it’s also been good, in a way. Are cops necessary? Of course we are. There is no functioning democracy on Earth that doesn’t have a body of citizens dedicated to enforcing the laws that allow it to function in the first place. Does that mean cops are always right? Not even close. All of the hyperbole and hyperventilating aside, I think the recent national conversation on the role of police in society has forced us to reevaluate our priorities, and change direction a bit. This is a good thing.”

Jordan Castro, author of the police novels Smoke and Mirrors: Police Dreams and The Great Silent Roar, agreed that “the most rewarding part of the job is when you truly break through, make a human connection, and make someone’s life just a little bit better, even if it’s temporary. To bring a smile to someone’s face when they are in the midst of a crisis is rewarding. Yes, it’s a cliché. And I get that. But we are human and crave human connections that are impactful. If the goal is to be closer to God, and follow in the steps of Christ, nothing accomplishes that more than serving people in need and sometimes saving people in need.”

Castro’s first novel in particular was motivated by a desire to reveal the sacrifices police make to safeguard the city.

“We desperately needed some positive depictions of cops. The tide had turned against us, almost seismically, and being anticop became very fashionable in society,” he said. “To be able to humanize the police and introduce myself to the public as an author, a husband, a father, and an intellectual (and Xavier graduate!) with something unique to share with the world was a tremendous source of pride.”

As they continue to make their way through the challenges of the age, Sons of Xavier in the FDNY and NYPD rely on their unique bond with their colleagues—and each other.

“When I first got on the FDNY, my dad told me how much I’d like the brotherhood and camaraderie of the FDNY. This is true, and it is the best part of the job,” said FDNY Lieutenant Adam Lynch ’97, whose father also served in the department. “But I had already experienced that brotherhood and camaraderie at Xavier, especially logging long hours at practice, going to football camp, traveling on the subway back to Breezy Point, and around the world with the rugby teams.

There was that shared feeling of going into battle and being in the trenches with each other.”

Thomas Leonard, who has worked alongside several Xavier alumni throughout his career, said that sense of brotherhood and camaraderie is one of the most meaningful parts of his work.

“There is a community aspect to the job, and we all want the best for each other in our careers—but I think we are always rooting a little bit harder for other Xavier guys,” he said. “The relationships and the bonds you build at work with other firefighters is as rewarding as anything the FDNY offers. There is a true sense of community and tradition.”

“The Xavier brotherhood in both the NYPD and FDNY is strong. I’ll never get tired of running into a fellow Knight on the street, at a meeting, or in a precinct or firehouse,” added Joseph Seminara. “We can spot each other from a mile away. There is an unspoken bond, an immediate friendship, and a deep mutual respect. I’m proud of every one of my brothers who decided to enter these dangerous professions and truly be men for others.”

Shawna Gallagher Vega is Xavier’s Vice President for Communications and Marketing. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Boston College.