Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Hanley was killed in a motorcycle accident on Beaver Road, near Imperial Road, in Coraopolis.
He and the police chief were in the police station when they received word that two men were attempting to steal a car. As the two officers got onto the department motorcycle they observed the suspect car drive past at a high rate of speed. The chief began pursuing it, with Patrolman Hanley in the sidecar.
They pursued the vehicle onto Beaver Road, near Coraopolis Heights, where the chief lost control of the motorcycle and it struck a tree. Patrolman Hanley was killed at the scene.
The two subjects continued fleeing and it is unknown if they were ever captured.
Patrolman Hanley had served with the McKees Rocks Police Department for seven months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 5-month-old child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-2A8BD8F0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hanley served with the McKees Rocks Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the McKees Rocks community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hanley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James Joseph Hanley is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At McKees Rocks Borough Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Joseph Hanley's cause is highlighted.
How James Joseph Hanley Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Joseph Hanley is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from McKees Rocks Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
