Roll of Honor
Joseph G. Lemm
Incident
Location: Overseas Weapon: Explosives; Improvised device Offender: Suicide bomber
Special Agents Joseph Lemm, Louis Bonacasa, Chester McBride, Michael Cinco, Adrianna Vorderbruggen, and Peter Taub were killed by a suicide bomber in a village near Bagram Air Base Afghanistan. Two U.S. Air Force Security Forces airmen who were with them were wounded in the attack.
The agents and airmen were conducting a joint patrol as part of an investigation when the bomber drove a motorcycle into them and detonated the explosives.
Special Agents Lemm and Bonacasa were posthumously promoted to the rank of special agent within the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Special Agent Lemm had been activated as a member of the New York Air National Guard and had served as a member of the New York City Police Department for 15 years. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective first grade within the NYPD.
Joe, you are truly missed each and everyday. The warrant squad, your friends throughout the NYPD and at the 105th, you had a huge impact on each and every person you met especially myself as i became NYPD after you. 3689 my brother. God Bless You and Louie! Until Valhalla
Police Officer Ben Hinderman NYPD September 18th, 2023
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Agent Lemm gave the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations 27 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph G. Lemm served in the Air Force (2015â2015) before joining law enforcement.
Special Agent Joseph G. Lemm is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 15 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph G. Lemm's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph G. Lemm Compares
Offender Outcome
Suicide bomber
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph G. Lemm is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph G. Lemm was killed by explosives; improvised device.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
