In 2014 , Special Investigator Diane DiGiacomo was diagnosed with cancer that was directly attributed to her exposure to toxins while working as a part of animal search and rescue operations after the September 11 attacks that were depicted in the '' Animal Precinct at Ground Zero '' special . DiGiacomo died on November 20 , 2015 as a result of that cancer . Although DiGiacomo 's death occurred over 14 years after the attack and almost 2 years after the January 2014 dissolution of the Humane Law Enforcement Division , the Officer Down Memorial Page considers her death to be in the line of duty . This makes DiGiacomo the only known line of duty death in the history of the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Division
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Animal Precinct