Former Port Authority Police Officer Mitch Rosen, a responder to the terror attacks at the World Trade Center in 2001, will soon have one of his colored pencil pieces displayed at the Port Authority Police Department Academy in Jersey City – a tribute to fallen Sgt. James Romito.

Rosen told News 12 that he was searching for inspiration for his next piece of art by looking at pictures online of New York City in the 1970s. It was then he found a picture of Romito and Officer Patrick Mullally in front of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Rosen worked with the two in the early 1980s.

"I immediately looked at it and I said I know that guy,” said Rosen. “And the more I looked at it and looked at his face, I said that's James Romito.”

Romito was eventually promoted to inspector and became an influence for many younger officers on how to do the job correctly, Rosen said. He ultimately was one of the 37 Port Authority officers that were killed on 9/11. He was 51 years old.

Rosen says he channels his emotions through art. One photo he took while working at Ground Zero was transformed into a drawing now displayed at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

"I enjoy doing pencil drawings. I've been doing it since I was eight years old and it's very calming, very therapeutic for me," says Rosen.