MAYOR GIULIANI ATTENDS PLAQUE DEDICATION FOR MICHAEL HANLY, SANITATION HERO KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
SANITATION CAREER SPANNED 23 YEARS
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today unveiled a plaque honoring Sanitation hero Michael Hanly, a 23-year veteran of the Department who was killed in the line of duty a year ago on November 12, 1996. Mr. Hanly is survived by his wife Catherine and four daughters, Jennifer, Michelle, Shannon and Melissa. Today's memorial ceremony was sponsored by the Bensonhurst Ambulance Company who came to Mr. Hanly's assistance at the scene of the fatal accident.
"I'm very proud to be here today to honor a man who brought so much honor to the entire City of New York," Mayor Giuliani said. "In his 23 years with the Department of Sanitation, Michael Hanly served the people of this City with dedication, courage and honor."
"Michael was a role model and a hero to his family, to his community and to the people of New York City," the Mayor continued. "And I know that it was a great comfort to Catherine and her daughters that the members of the Bensonhurst Ambulance Company were there with Michael during his final moments. I understand that Michelle was so inspired by the concern of the ambulance company volunteers that she has become a volunteer herself and the people who work with her have become her extended family. It is wonderful to see the power that Michael's legacy has had on the community. And he will always be remembered in the way he served the City."
Mr. Hanly and his partner Thomas Giammarino, were on house-to-house refuse collection in the vicinity of 84th Street and New Utrecht Avenue in Bensonhurst when a container of what was later determined to be highly concentrated hydrofluoric acid, burst and splashed Mr. Hanly in the face and neck. His partner, in coming to his aid, was also burned by the acid.
Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said, "Although a line of duty death such as the one suffered by Mike Hanly is not a common occurrence in the Department of Sanitation, it has affected every member of his extended family in the Department. The outpouring of support from the Mayor and the community has been some solace to both his family in the Sanitation Department, and to his wife and his four daughters."
The Sanitation Department reminds New Yorkers that hazardous material should be disposed of properly either by using the material up before disposing of the container or by calling licensed hazardous materials waste hauler. It should never be put out for regular sanitation collection.
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