He’ll be remembered as the heart and soul of the NYPD.
Hundreds of mourners attended a Wednesday wake on Long Island for legendary NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, who died days after going into cardiac arrest.
McDonald was recognized as a department hero, and praised for forgiving the teen gunman who shot him three times in Central Park in 1986. The bullet wounds left him paralyzed from the neck down.
“Steven is the heart and soul of this police department,” NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said after paying his respects. “Just take a look at his life, he had about 20 months on the job when he was shot. For the last 30 years, Steven never quit. He continued to be a man of faith and to preach peace.”
Ben Tucker, NYPD deputy commissioner, described McDonald as “one of these people who touches you every time.”
“He is incredibly inspirational, and he has become somewhat of a saint, if you will, for the NYPD,” he added.
Despite being paralyzed, McDonald became a goodwill ambassador for the NYPD and traveled around the world to spread his message.
McDonald’s viewing is being held at St. Agnes Parish Center on North Village Avenue in Rockville Centre from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday.
His funeral will be held on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.