Most people when it comes to their faith exude hypocrisy with their hatred, ignorance, racism and disdain for the poor, especially within the context of
American society. Police officer Steven McDonald was an aberration in this society and epitomized the real meaning of his Christianity and Catholicism.
He was shot by Shavod Jones in 1986 and was paralyzed from the incident, and, in the manner of Jesus of Nazareth, forgave him. Who does anyone know reading this under similar tragic circumstances would have done the same?
McDonald dedicated his life for the next 30 years building bridges between the police and the public, especially within communities of color. I remember in 1989 when an African- American teenager named Yusef Hawkins was lynched in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, by a group of whites and McDonald said, “A great kid like Yusef Hawkins did not deserve to die like that.”
McDonald like many other people “talked the talk” as far as his Catholicism went, but unlike most, even with his paralysis, more importantly he “walked the walk” as far as being a true example of Jesus of Nazareth. Many police officers in the NYPD and within the Larchmont police should pay attention to Steven McDonald’s example because his character is conspicuously lacking within those two institutions.
My friend, retired police officer Jeffrey Meyer from the Eastchester Police Department, is an example of that, as well as retired police officer Robert
Kelly-Schuyler from the Atlanta PD. These gentleman continue the great legacy of officer Steven McDonald.
