Phyllis Johnson, known as PJ, went from New York City Police Department clerk to beat cop.

She was on the force on September 11, 2001. In the months that followed, she was assigned to search the Staten Island landfill for items to identify those lost in the World Trade Center attacks.

PJ came to StoryCorps with her friend, Danny Perasa, to talk about her first and last days on the force.

Originally aired December 18, 2007 on NPR’s News & Notes.