New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Monday, November 5, 2007
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 20 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
Sergeant Michael Ryan died of three different forms of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma he contracted after inhaling toxic chemicals and materials while working hundreds of hours at Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attack of September 11, 2001.
Following the attack, Sergeant Ryan worked 70 to 80 hours a week at Ground Zero for several months. He was diagnosed with his first cancer, which was caused by prolonged exposure to volatile organic compounds cataloged at Ground Zero in May 2006. He died on November 5, 2007, as a result of cancer.
Sergeant Ryan served with the New York City Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his wife (a retired New York City police officer) and his four children.