NYPD Officer Among Six Americans Killed in Afghan Suicide Bombing

Image via NYPD

By FEROZE DHANOA

An NYPD detective was among the six American service members killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan on Monday, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said in a statement.

A member of the Bronx Warrant Squad, Detective Joseph Lemm was a 15-year veteran of the department who also served in the U.S. National Guard.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack that happened near the Bagram Air Base when a motorcycle rigged with explosives targeted the troops. The service members were conducting a routine patrol at the time, according to a statement issued by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. A U.S. contractor and two other service members were also injured in the attack.

Carter said the attack served as a “painful reminder of the dangers our troops face everyday in Afghanistan.” He offered condolences to the families of those killed in the attack.

Bagram is one of the main bases of the 9,800 U.S. troops that remain in Afghanistan after NATO formally ended its combat operations last year.

In October, the Pentagon said counter-terrorism operations with Afghan forces had grown tougher, citing an increase in insurgent attacks and casualties, NBC News reports. President Obama announced in October, his decision to keep 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan through most of 2016, saying handing over security solely to Afghan forces was too much of a risk.

In a statement, the White House says it remains committed to supporting the Afghan people and their government and will continue to work to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, not relenting to the threat of terrorism that plagues the region.

Below is Commissioner Bratton’s full statement.

Earlier today, we lost one of our Finest in a suicide bombing in Bagram, Afghanistan. Detective Joseph Lemm epitomized the selflessness we can only strive for: putting his country and city first.

Detective Lemm not only served New Yorkers as a member of this Department, but served his country as a member of the U.S. Air National Guard. Detective Lemm was a fifteen year veteran of the NYPD and was promoted to Detective in January of 2014, serving in the Bronx Warrant Squad.

As a member of the NYPD, Detective Lemm was deployed three times, twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq.

Detective Lemm leaves behind a wife and two children.

Tonight, we grieve and we remember this selfless public servant who dedicated his life to protecting others.