The DEA Honor Roll
Official Line of Duty Deaths
Joseph J. Lynch
Rank: Detective
Shield Number: 1423
Command: Bomb & Forgery Squad
Date of Death: 07/04/1940
Cause of Death: Explosion - Investigation
Detective Joseph Lynch and Detective Ferdinand A. Socha were killed when a time bomb they were inspecting exploded. The two detectives were inspecting the bomb, which had been discovered at the World’s Fair Grounds in Flushing, Queens. Members of the Bomb Squad, including Detective Socha and Detective Lynch had removed the bomb to a safe location, but it exploded as the two inspected it.