In Memoriam

The Bomb Technician Memorial Foundation honors the brave public safety bomb technicians who have made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country.

Gerald Brennan

Detective, New York Police Department
Served 1986 through 2002, End of Watch July 14, 2020

NYPD Bomb Squad Detective (ret) Gerald Brennan passed away on July 14, 2020, after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer. Jerry, as he was known to his loved ones, had a distinguished thirty-year career with the Police Department, during sixteen of which he was a Certified Bomb Technician. He was initially assigned to the unit in September 1986, and he attended the Hazardous Devices School (HDS) shortly thereafter. Jerry retired in 2002 after having risen to the rank of Detective First Grade.

While serving with NYPD, Jerry responded to the World Trade Center attack site on September 11, 2001, along with thousands of other first responders. He took part in the massive effort to evacuate civilians from the doomed buildings and handled multiple assignments of suspicious packages and vehicles as they were dispatched. As there were fears of a car bomb follow up to the “planes used as missiles” attack, he, along with other members of the Bomb Squad methodically cleared multiple vehicles in the vicinity of the attack site.

Unfortunately, we lost one member of the Bomb Squad, Detective Claude Richards, in the collapse of WTC Tower Two (Claude and Jerry were classmates at HDS). This loss was the impetus for a daily search detail that was in place for weeks after the attack, specifically aimed at recovering Claude’s remains. Jerry was regularly assigned to that detail as part of his rotating schedule. Each tour spent there consisted of twelve hours “on the pile” as working the site had become known. The Bomb Squad maintained a daily detail at the Staten Island Landfill debris screening site to immediately address any suspicious, or hazardous items (there were many) found there during investigative operations. Jerry was similarly posted there as part of his regular duties. All told, Jerry performed Bomb Squad assignments at the attack site and landfill totaling hundreds of hours in direct support of the command’s mission.

On September 8, 2021, Jerry’s passing was designated “Line of Duty” due to the attribution of his cancer being linked to exposure to toxins related to his performance of official bomb squad duties.

Dennis W. Reichardt

Sergeant, Suffolk County Police Department, NY
Served through July 2011, End of Watch October 4, 2018

Sergeant Dennis Reichardt died as the result of cancer he developed after spending three months searching through debris at the site of the World Trade Center and the Fresh Kills landfill following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.

Sergeant Reichardt was an outstanding member of the department and received eight department recognitions during his career. He also received a Police Combat Gold Medal, one of the highest awards a sworn member can receive, for his handling of an incident involving a barricaded person in 2001.

Joining the department in September 1982, Sergeant Reichardt worked several years in the Second Precinct. He moved on from patrol with stints in Recruit Training Section and Applicant Investigations Section. After being promoted in 1993, Reichardt spent much of his career as a supervisor in the Emergency Service Section.

Reichardt retired from the police department in July 2011. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in April 2017 and passed away on October 4, 2018. Sergeant Reichardt had served with the Suffolk County Police Department for 29 years.

Rex A. Stockham

Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Served November 1984 to October 8, 2016

On September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 was commandeered by terrorists while on its way from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California. Passengers attempted to retake the plane during the flight, and it crashed in an abandoned strip mine near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The impact and explosion of 7,000 gallons of aviation fuel sent a fireball over the tree line, causing secondary fires in nearby woods. The impact crater contained aviation fuel and smoldering debris that burned for several days after the crash. SSA Rex Stockham deployed to the crash site via helicopter that afternoon to survey the impact crater and isolate evidence sites in the surrounding area. FBI Evidence Response Team (ERT) members initially used heavy machinery to remove debris and contaminated soil from the crater before manually sifting through debris to recover evidence. The next day, FBI safety officers provided particulate respirators, Tyvek suits, eye protection, and other equipment that is required when working around excavation machinery. Stockham left the crash site on September 12.

In April 2015, SSA Stockham was diagnosed with colon cancer, which had already spread to his liver. He succumbed to the disease on October 8, 2016. Extensive research by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health established sufficient evidence that SSA Stockham’s exposure to the air in and around the Pennsylvania crash site after the 9/11 attack either precipitated or accelerated his development of his condition.

SSA Stockham worked numerous high-profile cases, including the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Bombing in Oklahoma City; Shanksville, Pennsylvania; Amerithrax; the Pentagon and DC Sniper cases; the Boston Bombing, and numerous international bombing, abduction and murder investigations. Rex believed his greatest accomplishment with the Bureau was the work he and his team did in developing the FBI’s Forensic Canine Program. He was responsible for creating one of the only researched-based programs used with forensic canines to help augment investigations. He pioneered new techniques and practices for the use of human scent evidence and victim recovery canines in investigations. These techniques and practices are still in use today.

Supervisory Special Agent Stockham had served with the FBI for 31 years.

William R. Hakim

Detective, Oregon State Police
Served 1997 through December 12, 2008

Detective Bill Hakim died from duty-related explosive injuries while attempting a render-safe operation on an improvised explosive device recovered at the scene of an attempted bank robbery in Woodburn, Oregon.

A bomb threat had been called into a local bank earlier in the day, but the device was determined not to pose a threat. Later in the day a second bomb threat was made to a neighboring bank. A bank employee discovered a suspicious object in the bushes outside of the bank. At some point after officers responded to the scene, the device was moved inside the bank.

As Trooper Hakim, Captain Tennant, and the Woodburn police chief examined the device it detonated, fatally injuring Trooper Hakim and Captain Tennant. The police chief was critically injured.

Both suspects, a father and son team, were apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to death. Bill Hakim was born on August 31, 1957 in New York City. He traveled and lived all over the world while growing up, from Spain to Mexico. Bill was fluent in no less than four languages during his travels. After college, Bill joined the U.S. Navy as an officer and became an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Diver. Bill was a proud member of the Antarctic Dive Exploration Team and explored the floor of the Antarctic Ocean.

In 1997, he became a member of the Oregon State Police, first being assigned to the Klamath Falls office; and then in 1999 was transferred to the Salem Area Command of the OSP where he was assigned as an Arson Detective and an Explosives Technician. Bill will always be known for his humor and his steadfast commitment to his family. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Michael C. Avilucea

Lieutenant, New Mexico State Police
Served October 31, 1981 through May 30, 2008

Lieutenant Michael Avilucea was a 26-year veteran of the New Mexico State Police and the commander of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team. Lieutenant Avilucea was killed in an automobile accident in Rio Arriba County, NM while returning from an operation in which he had assisted with recovering explosives. The rollover accident occurred while Lieutenant Avilucea was returning to his normal duty station while operating his patrol unit.

Lieutenant Avilucea is honored as “A policeman’s policeman.” He unselfishly served the state of New Mexico for over 26 years, which fostered his passion for service to the citizens of New Mexico. Lieutenant Avilucea was survived by his son, Lucas Avilucea; his parents; and seven siblings.

Claude D. Richards

Detective, New York Police Department
Served 1983 through September 11, 2001

Detective Claude Richards was an 18-year veteran of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and assigned to the NYPD Bomb Squad. Detective Richards was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City on September 11, 2001. Detective Richards responded directly to the WTC site and was assisting other first responders with the aid and evacuation of victims. Detective Richards was attempting to evacuate victims when the building collapsed.

He was survived by his three sisters and two brothers and was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department’s Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

Leonard W. Hatton

Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Served through September 11, 2001

Special Agent Leonard W. Hatton was assigned to the New York Division of the FBI and served as a Special Agent Bomb Technician (SABT). SABT Hatton was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City on September 11, 2001. SABT Hatton responded directly to the WTC site and was assisting other first responders with the aid and evacuation of victims. SABT Hatton reentered one of the towers in an attempt to evacuate more victims when the building collapsed.

SABT Hatton was assigned to the Joint Bank Robbery Task Force and had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 15 years. Only three months before the attack he had testified in the trial of a follower of the terrorist group.

Agent Hatton was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Jack E. Galvin

Lieutenant, Wichita Police Department
Served 1980 through November 4, 2000

On November 5, 2000, Lieutenant John E. “Jack” Galvin died of injuries he sustained on October 20, 2000, while assisting in the destruction of 1,500 pounds of old commercial fireworks during a bomb squad training exercise.

As they were loading some of the fireworks into the pit where Lieutenant Galvin was working, an unknown event triggered an explosion, causing the remaining fireworks on the truck to ignite. Lieutenant Galvin received second and third-degree burns on over 80 percent of his body. Another officer and a civilian were also injured in the explosion.

Lt. Galvin was a 20-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department and a seven-year member of the department’s bomb squad. During his tenure with the department, the 49-year old Lieutenant also served as an undercover officer, a member of the police honor guard, a motorcycle officer, and a patrol officer. Lt. Galvin coordinated all special events, parades, and the Wichita River Festival for the department and was noted for his involvement in the community. The department awarded him the Silver Wreath of Valor in 1981, the Bronze Wreath of Merit in 1985 and 1987. He twice received the department’s Distinguished Service Award and was awarded the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Gold Award. Lieut. Galvin is survived by his wife Mary and four children.

Richard J. Schuening

Sergeant, Oregon State Police
Served 1979 through October 2, 1997

Sergeant Richard Schuening died from duty-related explosive injuries while assisting the ATF with the recovery of stolen explosives. Dick was born August 10, 1944, in Pendleton, Oregon. After spending 4 years in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service (1964 – 1968) he returned to Oregon and joined the Oregon State Police in 1979. After a variety of duties (including Patrol, Detective, and bomb technician), Sergeant Schuening was promoted to the position of Bomb Squad Commander with the Oregon State Police.

It was in that capacity that Dick was assisting the ATF in the recovery of stolen dynamite and blasting caps at a remote area of northeastern Oregon. While in the process of the recovery, the blasting caps that he was handling detonated, killing Sergeant Schuening.

Dick was killed near the town of Granite, Oregon on October 2, 1997; he leaves behind his wife and 6 children.

Jeremiah J. Hurley, Jr.

Police Officer, Boston Police Department
Served 1968 through October 28, 1991

Officer Jeremiah Hurley, a 23-year veteran of the Boston Police Department and assigned to the Bomb Squad, was killed while investigating a call regarding a suspicious package at 39 Eastbourne Street. During the investigation the package exploded, killing him, and wounding the other officer on the scene.

The bomb had been attached to the bottom of a car and fell off in the driveway. The bomb builder was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, but that conviction was overturned, and he was re-sentenced in 2007 to serve 37 years. In August of 2008, a federal appeals court reinstated the life sentence.

Officer Hurley had served with the Boston Police Department for 23 years and was assigned to the Bomb Squad.

David B. Pulling

Corporal, Delaware State Police
Served September 8, 1981 through November 18, 1987

David was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 22, 1956. He moved to Dover, Delaware in 1968 with his parents, Richard and Jacqueline, and his brother, Richard Jr. David graduated from Dover High School and the University of Delaware and shortly thereafter went to work with his brother at the Petersburg (Virginia) Police Department for four years. David moved back to Delaware in 1981 where he married his wife, Elizabeth, and joined the ranks of the Delaware State Police. David was the father of two boys: Jonathan and his stepson, George.

Cpl. Pulling joined the Delaware State Police on September 8, 1981. During his career, he was assigned to the K-9 Unit, Special Operations Response Team, and the uniform patrol division at Troop 3, Camden. On November 18, 1987, Corporal David Pulling, then 31 years old and a six-year veteran of the Delaware State Police, was killed while training to be a bomb technician at the F.B.I. Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, Alabama. Cpl Pulling would have served as a certified bomb technician for DSP’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. Cpl. David Pulling’s death was not in vain. New safety procedures were implemented at the school and new equipment was developed which has helped keep thousands of bomb technicians safe from something so tragic ever occurring again.

As a token of respect and honor, on the 20-year anniversary of David’s death, members of the Delaware State Police (DSP) EOD Team had the United States flag flown over the Bomb Technicians Memorial in David’s honor. A short time later, EOD Team members presented David’s parents with a shadow box containing that flag and the DSP EOD unit challenge coin which proudly displays David’s identification number (550) inscribed on the badge. EOD team members then escorted David’s parents outside to show them that David’s identification number has also been used as an identifier on each of the unit’s response vehicles. This number serves as a constant reminder of the dangers of the EOD profession, how quickly life can be taken from us, and that we will never forget our fallen brother.

Ronald L. Ball

Police Officer, Los Angeles Police Department
Served through February 8, 1986

Officer Ronald Ball and Detective Arleigh McCree were killed while attempting to defuse two booby-trapped pipe bombs. The officers, both members of the Bomb Squad, were called to a home that was being searched in connection with a shooting. The officers conducting the search located the two pipe bombs in a garage and called the Bomb Squad to the scene. While examining the devices, the officers determined they were booby-trapped and moved all of the other officers away from the scene.

As Officer Ball and Detective McCree attempted to defuse the bombs, they detonated, killing Detective McCree instantly and fatally wounding Officer Ball, who succumbed to the wounds at a local hospital several hours later.

Officer Ball served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 17 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.

Arleigh E. McCree

Detective, Los Angeles Police Department
Served through February 8, 1986

Detective Arleigh McCree and Officer Ronald Ball were killed while attempting to defuse two booby-trapped pipe bombs. The officers, both members of the Bomb Squad, were called to a home that was being searched in connection with a shooting. The officers conducting the search located the two pipe bombs in a garage and called the Bomb Squad to the scene. While examining the devices, the officers determined they were booby-trapped and moved all of the other officers away from the scene.

As Detective McCree and Officer Ball attempted to defuse the bombs, they detonated, killing Detective McCree instantly and fatally wounding Officer Ball, who succumbed to the wounds at a local hospital several hours later.

Detective McCree was a U.S. Navy veteran and a world-renowned bomb expert who assisted with the investigation of the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Lebanon. He was even offered a high-paying job by the dictator Moammar Khadafy to train terrorists how to build bombs. He served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 21 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Brian J. Murray

Detective, New York Police Department
Served 1970 through September 11, 1976

Detective Brian Murray was a six-year veteran of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and was assigned to the Bomb Squad. During a TWA flight to Europe, Croatian terrorists hijacked a plane and threatened to blow up the aircraft. To establish their sincerity that actual bombs may be on the flight, the terrorists revealed the location of a real bomb in New York City. Detective Murray was killed, and three other NYPD Bomb Technicians seriously wounded while attempting to render safe a terrorist bomb removed from a locker in Grand Central Station. Terrorists attempting to win Croatian independence planted a bomb in a locker at Grand Central Station in Manhattan. The terrorists then hijacked a TWA flight. While en-route to Europe, the terrorists transmitted their demands. The terrorists threatened to blow up the airplane with bombs, and to strengthen the impression that they had real bombs on the airplane, they told officials where they could find a bomb at Grand Central Station.

Officers from the Bomb Squad were sent to investigate, and they removed a bomb from a locker at the station. They then removed the bomb to the department range at Rodman’s Neck in the Bronx, where Officer Murray, along with three other officers, attempted to defuse the bomb by remote control. When they were unsuccessful in defusing the bomb by remote, they approached it. During their approach, the bomb exploded, killing Officer Murray, and seriously injuring the other three officers.

The five Croatian terrorists were arrested when the airplane they hijacked landed in Paris, France. All five suspects were returned to the United States, convicted of air piracy, and in addition, two were convicted of murder. The two suspects convicted of murder were sentenced to life in prison, but that sentence was reduced in 1980. One suspect was paroled in 1989. The second was paroled in 2008 and then deported.

Detective Murray was the first Hazardous Devices School (HDS) graduate killed in the line of duty. Detective Murray was survived by his wife and two children. On October 1, 2014, Charles Street in lower Manhattan was renamed Police Officer Brain Murray Way in his honor.

Vincent D. Connolly

Police Officer, New York Police Department
Served 1968 through December 3, 1973

Officer Vincent David Connolly was a five-year veteran of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and was assigned to the Bomb Squad. On December 3, 1973, Officer Connolly was responding to an explosion in a building on Fifth Avenue in lower Manhattan. Officer Connolly’s car accidentally struck an abutment on F.D.R. Drive at Cohenties Slip and South Street. Officer Connolly died as a result of the accident. Officer Connolly was survived by his wife and four children.

Ferdinand A. Socha

Detective, New York Police Department
Served 1931 through July 4, 1940

Detective Ferdinand Socha was a nine-year veteran of the New York Police Department (NYPD) and was assigned to the NYPD Forgery and Bomb Squad. Detective Socha and his partner Detective Joseph Lynch were called to the World’s Fair Grounds in Flushing, Queens, New York on the 4th of July 1940. They were directed to the British Pavilion after an electrician found a suspicious satchel in a utility room. Upon confirming that the package was emitting a ticking sound, Detectives Socha and Lynch quickly carried it away to a secluded area near the Van Wyck Expressway. Detective Lynch took out a pocketknife and slit open a 2-inch hole in the bag as Detective Socha knelt to look inside. As the Detectives were examining the package, the bag exploded. The explosion opened a crater 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep, instantly killing both Detectives, and injuring nearby police officers.

Detective Socha was survived by his wife, parents, two sisters, and two brothers.

Joseph J. Lynch

Detective, New York Police Department
Served 1936 through July 4, 1940

Detective Joseph Lynch was a veteran officer of the New York Police Department (NYPD) and assigned to the NYPD Forgery and Bomb Squad. Detective Lynch and his partner Detective Ferdinand Socha were called to the World’s Fair Grounds in Flushing, Queens, New York on the 4th of July 1940. They were directed to the British Pavilion after an electrician found a suspicious satchel in a utility room. Upon confirming that the package was emitting a ticking sound, Detectives Socha and Lynch quickly carried it away to a secluded area near the Van Wyck Expressway. Detective Lynch took out a pocketknife and slit open a 2-inch hole in the bag as Detective Socha knelt to look inside. As the Detectives were examining the package, the bag exploded. The explosion opened a crater 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep, instantly killing both Detectives, and injuring nearby police officers.

Detective Lynch was survived by his wife and five children. Easter “Lynch” Miles, the eldest of the five Lynch children, attended the April 16, 2007, dedication of the Bomb Technician Memorial (at the FBI Hazardous Devices School) as the oldest surviving child of a bomb technician killed in the line of duty. Miles assisted in “unveiling” the bomb technician statue at the memorial dedication.

Giuseppe J. Petrosino

Lieutenant, New York Police Department
Served 1884 through March 12, 1909

Lieutenant Petrosino was a 25-year veteran of the New York Police Department (NYPD). In April, 1903, Lt. Petrosino founded, and was designated as the first Commanding Officer of the NYPD “Italian Squad” which became the NYPD Bomb Squad - the oldest, active public safety bomb squad in the United States.

His five-man unit was assigned to investigate extortion bombings by an Italian mafia known as the Black Hand. While conducting the investigation, Lt. Petrosino traveled to Sicily in 1909 to continue an undercover investigation of the Black Hand. Members of the Black Hand received a tip that he was a police officer and assassinated Lt. Petrosino on March 12, 1909 in Palermo, Sicily. Lt. Petrosino is the only NYPD officer killed in the line of duty overseas. More than 250,000 citizens attended his funeral.

A trial was held in connection with Lieutenant Petrosino’s murder; a local crime boss had been arrested by Lieutenant Petrosino years before for involvement in a New York murder, then deported, but was brought to trial for participation in Lieutenant Petrosino’s death. The suspect was acquitted because of an alibi but claimed afterward that he had killed Lieutenant Petrosino. The suspect was imprisoned years later on another murder charge and died in prison in 1943. In addition to the crime boss, who is believed to have masterminded Lieutenant Petrosino’s killing, there were two other suspects believed to have been the actual triggermen, one was arrested but released for lack of evidence and died years later in a mental hospital; the other committed suicide in 1969.

Lieutenant Petrosino had been with the New York City Police Department for 25 years, and was survived by his wife and infant daughter.

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Bomb Technician Memorial Foundation
Bldg 7010 Redstone Road
Huntsville, Alabama 35898

Email: info@bombtechmemorial.org

In Memoriam

The Bomb Technician Memorial Foundation honors the brave public safety bomb technicians who have made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country.

Gerald Brennan

Detective, New York Police Department Served 1986 through 2002, End of Watch July 14, 2020

Dennis W. Reichardt

Sergeant, Suffolk County Police Department, NY Served through July 2011, End of Watch October 4, 2018

Rex A. Stockham

Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation Served November 1984 to October 8, 2016