New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 18, 1938
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 6751
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: October 18, 1938
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
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. He had been with the agency for nine years and was survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter.