RNYRF Remembers Detective Steven McDonald

Remembering Detective Steven McDonald

(March 1, 1957 – January 10, 2017).

One year ago today we lost a very important and cherished member of the New York Rangers Family, NYPD Detective Steven McDonald. McDonald was shot in the line of duty by 15-year-old Shavod Jones, whom he was questioning about bicycle thefts in Central Park. 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. Several months after his injuries, 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?.

Jones served nine years in jail and prison for the shooting, and had called McDonald to apologize, but the two never met in person after the incident.

A lifelong fan of the New York Rangers McDonald was honored for his heroics and his never give up mentality the Rangers established the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in his honor following the 1987–1988 NHL season. Detective McDonald personally presented a Ranger with a trophy and a $25,000 check (in the player's name) made out to the Steven McDonald Foundation.

The following was the New York Rangers' statement on the passing of Steven McDonald:

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Detective Steven McDonald, a cherished member of the Rangers family. Steven exemplified the true meaning of the word hero and also personified the "Blueshirt Faithful." He is an inspiration to us all and his legacy will continue live on in our hearts and minds. Our thoughts and prayers are with Patti Ann and Conor and the entire McDonald family."

Steven McDonald died on January 10, 2017, at the age of 59, after suffering a heart attack a few days prior. He was given a full police funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral with Cardinal Dolan presiding over the Mass. Thousands of people and law enforcement 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 Detective McDonald's legacy.

Rangers great Adam Graves was among those who spoke at McDonald’s funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“I know you’ve all heard a lot over the last few days about how much the New York Rangers meant to Steven McDonald, and we’re grateful and humbled by the role our team played in this remarkable man’s life,” Graves said. “But I’m here to make one thing very, very clear: Steven McDonald meant more to the New York Rangers and our fans than we could ever mean to him.

“Steven was quite simply nothing short of a giant to all of us who played, worked and rooted for the Rangers organization. He touched all of us, he changed all of us, and we’ll always be in awe of you, Detective McDonald.”

Graves said winning the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, which he did five times, was one of the great honors of his career. He said the award would continue to honor McDonald as long as the Rangers exist.

“Each year, all of us at Madison Square Garden — players, staff and fans — looked forward to the award presentation because we knew Steven would say something that we would remember forever, something that spoke to the very best of us, that asked us to see the very best in each other.”