Patrolman

Martin A. Hanke

Accident
End of Watch October 18, 1938
Age 39
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 6751
The Vigil Panel 75 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Hanke was accidentally shot and killed at a police firing range in the basement of the Fourteenth Regiment Armory in Brooklyn. Patrolman Hanke was serving as a pistol instructor when he was accidentally shot by a recruit. Patrolman Hanke had given the "fire" command to the recruit in the next lane over. The other recruit was startled by the command and accidentally pulled the trigger, striking Patrolman Hanke in the abdomen. Patrolman Hanke was assigned to the Fourth Avenue Precinct (modern day 68th Precinct) but had been temporarily assigned as a pistol instructor.

Survivors

He had been with the agency for nine years and was survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hanke gave the New York City Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hanke.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 18, 1938
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 39
Badge Number 6751
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Martin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1938, 89 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Martin was 39. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Martin had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Martin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Martin A. Hanke

New York City Police Department · End of Watch October 18, 1938

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-E

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