When Gerald Sanford retired from the FDNY in 1997, he never anticipated that he would return to his post after one of the darkest days in American history.
In “It Started with a Helmet,” Sanford and his partner, Chris Griffith, detail the gripping story of Sanford’s contributions to the FDNY after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers.
Sanford, a Staten Island native who grew up in Concord and later settled with his wife in Grant City, has a long history of serving the country and New York City. After graduating from McKee High School, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for two years of active duty until 1962.
In 1965, he was hired by the NYPD, where he worked for three years. After that, he began a three decade-long career with the FDNY.