Imperial Valley College remembers 9/11

Police officers and firefighters were on hand Tuesday morning at Imperial Valley college, remembering the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

Many recall where they were when the towers fell and the heroes ran into the face of danger.

Since then for the last fifteen years IVC has helped train students to battle fires, save lives, and protect residents. IVC President Martha Garcia said first responders are pivotal especially in a time of crisis. “It is important to recognize that, that tragedy at now or in this moment a tragedy that reminds us of how critical these first responders are,” said Garcia.

It’s the local first responders that make a difference. “Kids here from our county that want to be fire fighters, want to be police officers want to get to you know some other law enforcement career or nursing. And it’s very important to have a program like this and a successful program so that we can keep our people here. They know the community, they know how to treat the people. They know our culture,” Chief Gonzalo Gerardo of the Calexico Police Department.

Local fire and police departments depend on programs like the one at IVC. Imperial County Fire Chief, Alfredo Estrada said, “For a school like IVC to continue to provide public safety is giving back to the community. Because essentially most of the students that graduate here stay and work here.”