From Police Heroes, a book by author Chuck Whitlock:

Officer Paul Laszczynski always wanted to be a police officer. He spent years earning a science degree and even worked in a New Jersey lab, but he jumped at the chance to join the Conrail Transit Police. His former wife, Karen, told The Star-Ledger, “He liked the idea of helping people and making a difference in their lives, helping them out as best he could in any situation.”

Laszczysnki was born in Baltimore and raised in Jersey City. He played football in both high school and college and tried out for two professional football teams, the New York Jets and the New York Giants.

During the 1990’s he worked at the Port Authority central police pool then the PATH command in Journal Square (New Jersey). His supervisor for more than a dozen years, Lieutentant Susan Durett, told The Star-Ledger that Laszczynski “took tremendous pride in being a member of this police department and was an exemplary cop in every aspect, from the way he dressed to the way he dealt with people.”

After the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, Officer Laszczynski earned a Fraternal Order of Police Valor Award after helping carry someone down more than seventy flights of stairs. He also climbed the George Washington Bridge more than once to rescue would-be jumpers. He then trained for and became a member of the ESU. He also had a position with the Port Authority’s honor guard.

Officer Laszczynski was last heard from somewhere above the twentieth floor of the North Tower where he was assisting victims.

A Paramus, New Jersey resident, he rode his Harley-Davidson motorcycle along with his girlfriend, Charlene, with a police group that raises money for children’s charities. He is survived by his two daughters, Amy and Jennifer.

Portraits of Grief, The New York Times

A Hero Who Loved the Flag

Paul Laszczynski had a box full of honors from his career as a Port Authority police officer, most notably a Valor Award for helping to carry someone down more than 70 flights of stairs after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

But his position with the Port Authority’s honor guard carrying the American flag meant more to him, said his girlfriend, Charlene Taralrico. “That was probably one of the most important things to him, more important than most of his commendations,” she said.

At 6 feet 5 inches and 240 pounds, Mr. Laszczynski, 49, of Paramus, N.J., was a striking flag-bearer. “He was into the snap, he liked to look right,” Ms. Talarico said. “I don’t think anybody looked better in the uniform.”

He kept his turquoise Harley-Davidson Wide Glide just as spiffy, and even named one of his Lhasa Apsos Harley. He rode the bike with the Renegade Pigs, a motorcycle police group that raises money for children’s charities.

“He was a hero with a heart,” Ms. Talarico said.