Steven McDonald

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For other people named Steve McDonald, see Steve McDonald (disambiguation).
Steven McDonald
McDonald with President George W. Bush in 2002
Born(1957-03-01)March 1, 1957
DiedJanuary 10, 2017(2017-01-10) (aged 59)
Known forShot and paralyzed
SpousePatricia Ann "Patti" McDonald
RelativesConor
Police career
DepartmentNew York City Police Department

Steven D. McDonald[1] (March 1, 1957 – January 10, 2017) was a New York City Police Department patrolman who was shot and paralyzed on July 12, 1986. The shooting left him quadriplegic.[2]

Shooting[edit]

A former U.S. Navy hospital corpsman and third generation NYPD police officer,[3] McDonald was shot in the line of duty by 15-year-old Shavod Jones, one of three boys he was questioning about bicycle thefts in Central 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 him quadriplegic 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 titled Why Forgive?, written by friend and pastor Johann 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 on parole.[7]

Personal life and death[edit]

McDonald's wife, Patricia Ann "Patti" McDonald, was elected Mayor of Malverne on Long 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 of Sergeant in the force by the time of his father's passing.[2][3]

Steven McDonald died on January 10, 2017, at the age of 59, after having a heart attack a few days prior but died from his injuries.[9] He was given a full police funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral with Cardinal 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's PIX 11 out of respect for McDonald's legacy.[10] Phillip Phillips, winner of the eleventh season of American Idol, was invited to the wake service and performed his hit song "Home" because it was one of McDonald's favorites, according to his son, Conor.[11]

Breaking the Cycle program[edit]

McDonald further promoted his message of forgiveness following his shooting by founding Breaking the Cycle, a program promoting nonviolent conflict 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 to Northern Ireland multiple times from 1997 to 1999 with his friends Mychal Judge and Johann Christoph Arnold to promote forgiveness in the wake of the 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]

Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award[edit]

The New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) established the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in his honor following the 1987–1988 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]

Award recipient NHL season
Vincent Trocheck 2023–2024
Ryan Lindgren 2022–2023
Chris Kreider 2021–2022
Adam Fox 2020–2021
Mika Zibanejad 2019–2020
Mika Zibanejad 2018–2019
Henrik Lundqvist 2017–2018
Mats Zuccarello 2016–2017
Mats Zuccarello 2015–2016
Cam Talbot 2014–2015
Mats Zuccarello 2013–2014
Ryan Callahan 2012–2013
Ryan Callahan 2011–2012
Brandon Prust 2010–2011
Ryan Callahan 2009–2010
Ryan Callahan 2008–2009
Brandon Dubinsky 2007–2008
Jed Ortmeyer 2006–2007
Henrik Lundqvist 2005–2006
No award presented 2004–2005
Jed Ortmeyer 2003–2004
Matthew Barnaby 2002–2003
Sandy McCarthy 2001–2002
Sandy McCarthy 2000–2001
Adam Graves 1999–2000
Adam Graves 1998–1999
Wayne Gretzky 1997–1998
Brian Leetch 1996–1997
Mark Messier 1995–1996
Mark Messier 1994–1995
Adam Graves 1993–1994
Adam Graves 1992–1993
Adam Graves 1991–1992
Jan Erixon 1990–1991
John Vanbiesbrouck and Kelly Kisio 1989–1990
Tony Granato 1988–1989
Jan Erixon 1987–1988

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Detective Steven D. McDonald, New York City Police Department, New York". The Officer Down Memorial Page. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "25 Years Later, Paralyzed NYPD Detective McDonald Still Inspiring Others". CBS New York. July 12, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "NYPD Photo Release — McDonald, Driscoll Shields". nyc.gov. December 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d Arnold, Johann Christoph (2014). "Steven McDonald's Story". Plough.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  5. ^ Arnold, Johann Christoph (January 2, 2014). Why Forgive?. Orbis Press. ASIN B00IFEHLZA.
  6. ^ "Profile of Steven McDonald". Breaking the Cycle. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ Freed Shooter Of Policeman Dies in Crash, The New York Times, September 11, 1995
  8. ^ "Wife of paralyzed cop elected village mayor". New York Daily News. Associated Press. March 21, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Goldstein, Richard (January 10, 2017). "Steven McDonald, Paralyzed Officer Who Championed Forgiveness, Dies at 59". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  10. ^ "Final Salute: The funeral of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald". YouTube. PIX11 News. January 13, 2017. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  11. ^ "Phillip Phillips Sings His Hit 'Home' at Steven McDonald's Wake in Tribute to NYPD Hero", Patheos, January 14, 2017, retrieved December 29, 2018
  12. ^ "About Breaking the Cycle, A project of the Bruderhof". www.breakingthecycle.com. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  13. ^ "Remembering Detective Steven McDonald". www.ollchs.org. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  14. ^ "NYPD Det. Steven McDonald — a timeline". Herald Community Newspapers. January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  15. ^ "Speakers | Breaking the Cycle". www.breakingthecycle.com. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  16. ^ "Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award". New York Rangers.

Further reading[edit]

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