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Joseph J. Lynch
Agency patch
Detective

Joseph J. Lynch

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch July 4, 1940
Age 33
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 1423
The Vigil Panel 167 · Column 1 · Line 19 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Joseph J. Lynch graduated from Fordham University and worked as a pharmacist before he followed his father and his brother into the New York City Police Department, for the security it gave his wife, Easter, and their five young children. They lived in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. Within about five years of joining as a patrolman he was a detective in the elite Bomb and Forgery Squad, carrying shield 1423.

In early July 1940, officials of the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, Queens, reported telephoned threats against the fair. On the Fourth of July Detective Lynch was on call at home when word came that a suspicious satchel had been found in the British Pavilion and carried out to an empty area behind the Polish Pavilion. He went, and his partner, Detective Ferdinand Socha, went with him although he was off duty. As they examined the satchel, it exploded and killed them both.

The department mounted the largest investigation in its history up to that time, but the men who planted the bomb were never caught.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons, four sisters, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Lynch gave the New York City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lynch.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department New York City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 4, 1940
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 33
Badge Number 1423
Gender Male
Assignment Bomb & Forgery Squad

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Explosives

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1940, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Joseph J. Lynch

New York City Police Department · End of Watch July 4, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-E

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