Steven McDonald | |
|---|---|
 McDonald withPresidentGeorge W. Bush in 2002 | |
| Born | (1957-03-01)March 1, 1957 |
| Died | January 10, 2017(2017-01-10) (aged 59) |
| Known for | Shot and paralyzed |
| Spouse | Patricia Ann "Patti" McDonald |
| Relatives | Conor |
| Police career | |
| Department | New York City Police Department |
Steven D. McDonald[1] (March 1, 1957 – January 10, 2017) was aNew York City Police Department patrolman who was shot andparalyzed on July 12, 1986. The shooting left himquadriplegic.[2]
A former U.S. Navyhospital corpsman and third generationNYPD police officer,[3] McDonald was shot in the line of duty by 15-year-old Shavod Jones, one of three boys he was questioning aboutbicycle thefts inCentral Park.[4] McDonald and a co-worker were on patrol in Central Park because there had been reports about a robbery in the park. While attempting to question Jones, McDonald noticed something in another boy's sock, and when he wanted to see what it was, Jones shot McDonald three times.[4] The first bullet hit him in the head, above his eye; the second hit his throat and caused him to have a speaking disability; and the third shattered his spine, paralyzing him from the neck down and leaving himquadriplegic and in need of a ventilator.[4]
Several months after he was shot, McDonald reported to the press that he had forgiven Jones for his actions. McDonald discussed the reasons for his forgiveness in some detail in the foreword of a 2014 book titledWhy Forgive?, written by friend and pastorJohann Christoph Arnold.[5]
Jones served nine years in prison for the shooting and had called McDonald to apologize,[4] but the two never met in person after the incident.[6] Jones was killed in a motorcycle crash on September 10, 1995, four days after his release onparole.[7]
McDonald's wife, Patricia Ann "Patti" McDonald, was elected Mayor ofMalverne onLong Island in March 2007.[8] At the time of the shooting, they had been married for less than a year and Patti was pregnant with their son Conor, who followed his father's footsteps by joining the NYPD in 2010. Conor had attained the rank ofSergeant in the force by the time of his father's death.[2][3]
Steven McDonald died on January 10, 2017, at the age of 59, a few days after suffering a heart attack.[9] He was given a full police funeral atSt. Patrick's Cathedral withCardinal Dolan presiding over the Mass. Thousands of civilians and law enforcement officers gathered inside and outside the cathedral to pay their final respects and goodbyes, and the Mass was broadcast on the city'sPIX 11 out of respect for McDonald's legacy.[10]Phillip Phillips, winner of theeleventh season ofAmerican Idol, was invited to thewake service and performed hishit song "Home" because it was one of McDonald's favorites, according to his son, Conor.[11]
McDonald further promoted his message offorgiveness following his shooting by founding Breaking the Cycle, a program promoting nonviolentconflict resolution.[12] McDonald attended assemblies at high schools or middle schools to tell the students about his personal story of forgiveness.[13] The program was started after McDonald traveled toNorthern Ireland multiple times from 1997 to 1999 with his friendsMychal Judge andJohann Christoph Arnold to promote forgiveness in the wake ofthe conflicts there.[14]
Following his death, McDonald's wife and son have continued working with Breaking the Cycle by telling his story of forgiveness to students.[15]
TheNew York Rangers of theNational Hockey League (NHL) established the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in his honor following the1987–1988 NHL season. McDonald would personally present a Ranger with a trophy and a $25,000 check (in the player's name) made out to the Steven McDonald Foundation.[16] It is the only Rangers award voted for by the fans.[17]
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