The daughter of an NYPD hero who was killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks is now falling in her father's footsteps.

Jillian Suarez, 25, was one of 270 police recruits who took the Oath of Honor during the swearing-in ceremony at the NYPD Police Academy last Monday.

It was an especially emotional day for Suarez, whose father Ramon lost his life after he ran into the North Tower to save people during the attack.

Suarez had turned nine years old just two days before both America - and her life - changed forever.

Jillian Suarez, the daughter of an NYPD cop who died in the 9/11 attacks, was one of 270 police recuits who took the Oath of Honor at the NYPD Police Academy last Monday

Ramon (pictured helping an asthmatic woman to safety during the attacks) died as he repeatedly ran into the North Tower to save people

Ramon was working in the Lower East Side neighborhood when he heard the call over the radio about the first plane hitting the North Tower.

When the second plane hit, Ramon and his partner immediately hailed a cab and headed straight to the World Trade Center to begin rescue efforts.

Ramon first ran into the North Tower, where he carried as asthmatic woman to safety after she ran down 49 flights of stairs.

The second time he ran in, Ramon helped Jyoti Vyas - who was seven months pregnant - get to the triage center after she descended 78 flights of stairs.

'I remember outside the tower, he said "Do you need help?"' Vyas recently told the New York Post.

'My head was filled [with] thinking that I couldn't feel my baby move.'

Suarez (pictured with her parents) had turned nine years old just two days before that fateful day when both America - and her life - changed forever

Suarez still remembers the moment her mom told her over the phone that he was missing. 'I just ran to my room, I dropped down, and I just prayed,' she said

Vyas, who gave birth to a baby girl two months later, said she is 'absolutely grateful' to Ramon.

'I'm very, very lucky I'm here to talk about this,' she said. 'I'm profoundly grateful and, at the same time, it's very sad. So many people and brave police officers and firefighters are not here.'

Ramon then entered the North Tower for a third time. He would not make it out alive.

Suarez still remembers the moment her mom told her over the phone that he was missing.

'I just ran to my room, I dropped down, and I just prayed,' Suarez told Pix 11.

Suarez wore her father's patrol cap and held the American flag that would be draped across his coffin during the funeral (pictured)

'Prayed for him to come home. Prayed that everything was fine and I'll have him back home with us.'

It took three months for officials to find Ramon's body.

'I think it really hit me when my mom had told me that day when they found him that he wasn't coming home,' Suarez said.

Ramon was awarded both the NYPD Medal of Honor and the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W Bush

Suarez wore her father's patrol cap and held the American flag that would be draped across his coffin during the funeral.

Ramon was hailed as the 'Police Department at its best' and awarded both the NYPD Medal of Honor and the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W Bush.

A decade passed before Suarez could start telling those close to her how her father really died.

'For 10 years, I said that he died from a heart attack,' she said.

'It's not easy to constantly go through the memorials and know and hear your father's name on that list of all those who passed away.'

But Suarez also held onto the good memories, including her father always walking in and out of the house wearing his uniform.

Suarez, who graduated from St Johns University with a forensics degree, said she is excited to help others after completing the rigorous six-month training program

'I always saw his passion in the job and how he loved wearing that uniform,' she said.

'And I want to be able to help others the way he did.'

And Suarez, who graduated from St Johns University with a forensics degree, will be able to do just that after a rigorous six-month training program.

'[My father] has always called me his little girl, so I definitely know for sure he is smiling down on me,' she said.

'I can't wait to get that shield. I hope I do.'