Remembering Sergeant Rodney Gillis
On the morning of September 11, 2001, NYPD Sergeant Rodney Gillis answered a choice most of us will never face: to flee or to run toward danger. Fresh from an overnight shift with the department’s Emergency Services Unit (ESU), Sgt. Gillis and his team immediately moved toward the World Trade Center after the first plane struck. He entered the South Tower with his colleagues to evacuate civilians and perform rescues, and he never returned. Gillis was one of 23 NYPD officers who gave their lives that day.
Early life and career
Rodney Gillis grew up in Brooklyn and forged a life rooted in service, skill, and family. He joined the NYPD in 1988 and rose to sergeant in 1997. Those who served with him remember a leader who combined technical competence with deep compassion — a professional who inspired confidence in others and led from the front.
- Joined NYPD: 1988
- Promoted to Sergeant: 1997
- Assigned to Emergency Services Truck 8
- Training and specialty areas: hazardous materials, emergency psychology, EMT skills
The actions of that morning
When the towers were struck, Gillis and his ESU colleagues, including Officer John Dallara, pushed into the South Tower to assist with evacuation and rescue. Witness accounts describe the team moving deep into the structure, refusing to turn back while conditions deteriorated. Their instinct was to protect and extract: cutting through smoke, navigating chaos, and guiding civilians to safety. The South Tower’s collapse claimed their lives amid the rescuers’ desperate efforts.
Gillis’ reputation as someone who was ‘first on the scene’ was not only about speed but about responsibility. He led by example — physically robust and mentally steady — and his team followed because they trusted him. The loss was immediate and profound for his unit and for the entire city.
“A terrific guy. A true warrior.” — Retired Lt. Richard Green on Rodney Gillis
Beyond the badge: family, talents, and community
To friends and family, Rodney Gillis was more than a uniform. He was a dedicated father of three and a loyal son, living near his mother in Brownsville while his father lived in North Carolina. He attended Park West High School and studied at St. John’s University before earning a degree from the Island Drafting and Technical Institute. Gillis had a wide range of interests and skills that reflected his curiosity and care.
- Devoted family man and father of three
- Skilled saxophonist who brought music to family gatherings
- Scuba diver and certified EMT
- Experienced in home remodeling and technical drafting
These pursuits offered balance to a demanding career. Whether playing saxophone at a family event or remodeling a home, Gillis brought the same focus and warmth he displayed at work.
Legacy and remembrance
Gillis’ sacrifice is part of a larger story of first responders who answered the call on 9/11. His life and death became a focal point for grief and gratitude — a man whose private joys and public duty formed a single, powerful legacy. In the weeks and years after the attacks, tributes highlighted both his bravery and his humanity. Colleagues remembered a leader who never asked someone else to do what he would not do himself.
Today, his name continues to appear on memorials and honor rolls that commemorate the officers and first responders who died that day. The remembrance is not only ceremonial; it is a reminder of the standards he modeled: courage, duty, technical excellence, and compassion.
How to honor his memory
There are several meaningful ways to honor the memory of Rodney Gillis and other first responders:
- Visit memorials and participate in public commemorations on anniversaries of 9/11.
- Support organizations serving families of fallen responders or programs for first responders’ health and well-being.
- Volunteer in local community safety, youth mentoring, or emergency preparedness efforts.
- Teach the story of sacrifice and service to younger generations to preserve institutional memory.
Why his story matters
Rodney Gillis’ story matters because it compels us to consider the meaning of service. He did not run to fame or recognition; he ran because his training, loyalties, and moral compass led him to help others. His life illustrates how ordinary backgrounds — a neighborhood upbringing, trade studies, musical interests — combine with professional dedication to create extraordinary courage.
More than two decades later, Sgt. Gillis remains emblematic of the many who risked and lost their lives on September 11. Remembering him is not only an act of honoring one man; it is a way to preserve the values he stood for and to renew our commitment to community, preparedness, and mutual aid.
Rodney Gillis answered his final call by choice. His name endures as a testament to bravery and to the human cost of protecting others. We remember him not only for how he died but for how he lived: with skill, heart, and courage.
