FAMILY HONOR: Erin Coughlin (circled), in a 2000 photo with her dad, slain 9/11 NYPD Sgt. John Coughlin, mom Patricia and her sisters Tara (left) and Kayla, is graduating from the Police Academy this year. (
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NYPD Sgt. John Coughlin died on 9/11 trying to help people escape from the World Trade Center — and now his oldest daughter is picking up his badge.
Erin Coughlin, 27, is in the current class of cadets at the Police Academy, with visions of following in her father’s big footsteps.
“Being a cop was always in the back of my mind,” said Erin, who never told her dad about her ambition. “He just wanted to make sure we went to college and had a career. He would be so proud. I know he’s up there just beaming.”
Erin said she has made a special request to wear Coughlin’s badge when she graduates this year.
Coughlin perished when the Twin Towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. He was trying to help people trapped in the doomed buildings escape, officials said.
Erin, one of his three daughters, said she was always enamored of his work — and one of her favorite childhood memories was bringing her father to Career Day at school.
“My dad was the coolest dad, and he had the coolest job,” Erin said, a smile spreading widely across her face.
“He had the best job with the best toys. He was a superhero. Other fathers were CEOs and lawyers, but everybody gravitated toward him.”
Erin graduated from SUNY Cortland and worked as a physical-education teacher but was discouraged by the rough job market.
She took the test to become a police officer in 2009 and entered the academy in July, even though the wounds of her father’s death are still raw.
Erin, who lives at home with her mother and sisters, Tara and Kayla, in Pomona, Rockland County, was worried about her mom’s reaction to her career choice.
But her concerns were misplaced.
“My mother been super supportive,” Erin said. “She helps me get my uniform ready. For her, this is the second time around. She used to help my father. She didn’t hesitate when I told her.”
“I’m very happy for her,” said Erin’s mom, Patricia. “John loved his job. It was good to him. A lot of great things happened to him, and he met a lot of great people working for the NYPD.
“Of course, it led to his death, but he did what he loved, and you can’t beat that. I know he’d be happy and proud of her being a cop.”
Still, Erin can’t shake her father’s shadow. A few weeks ago, she was taking a test in a room with pictures of cops who had died in the line of duty.
“There was his mug, looking down on me,” she said.
“I smiled. He was just this humongous guy who made sure we were always laughing and always had something to smile about. He loved his job. I know he’s proud I’m following in his footsteps.”
And she’s eager to get out on the street and get to work protecting the city.
“It’s a ticket to the best show in the world,” she said.
Erin was notified of her acceptance to the academy last year on her birthday, Aug. 19.
“I love it. I love the people in my company, my instructors. I’m so glad I made this choice. I love it,” she gushed.
She and her family are not attending the memorial at Ground Zero today but will go to a local ceremony in Haverstraw — their yearly tradition.
Right after, Erin will head to the academy for a class.