American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humane Law Enforcement, New York
End of Watch: Friday, November 20, 2015
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: 9/11 related illness
Date of Incident: September 11, 2001
Weapon Used: Aircraft; Passenger jet
Suspect Info: 19 suicide attackers
Special Investigator Diane DiGiacomo died as the result of cancer that developed following prolonged exposure to toxic materials while conducting search and rescue operations after the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11th, 2001.
Investigator DiGiacomo and other agents from the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement division were assigned to search for abandoned animals in homes and apartments in restricted area around the World Trade Center site that had been evacuated. Investigator DiGiacomo spent three months in the immediate area around Ground Zero participating in the operation and other recovery tasks.
She developed a cancer that was directly attributed to her exposure to the toxic air in the area.
Special Investigator DiGiacomo was one of the officers regularly profiled on the reality television show "Animal Precinct." She is survived by her son, two sisters, and brother.