NYPD Police Academy to be renamed after Steven McDonald

The sprawling 30-acre Queens campus will be named after the hero cop who was shot and paralyzed in 1986 but went on to advocate for nonviolence.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The NYPD Police Academy will be renamed after Detective Steven McDonald, a hero cop who was shot and paralyzed in 1986 but went on to become a fervent advocate for nonviolent conflict resolution. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the academy will be named after McDonald because he embodied the values the department wants its officers to have, including courage, character, and a commitment to dignity and forgiveness.

Why it matters

The renaming of the NYPD Police Academy after Steven McDonald is a significant honor that recognizes his remarkable life story and the positive impact he had on the department and the community. McDonald's message of forgiveness and nonviolence after being shot and paralyzed reshaped public understanding of the NYPD's work and values.

The details

In July 1986, when McDonald had only two years on the job, he was shot three times by a 15-year-old robbery suspect in Central Park, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite his injuries, McDonald lived for over three decades, spreading a message of forgiveness even to the teen who shot him. He became a fervent advocate for nonviolent conflict resolution, from youth violence at home to conflicts around the world.

  • McDonald joined the original police academy on July 16, 1984.
  • McDonald was shot and paralyzed on July 16, 1986.
  • The renaming of the academy is expected to be completed by July 16, 2026 - 42 years to the day that McDonald joined the academy.

The players

Steven McDonald

A NYPD detective who was shot and paralyzed in 1986 but went on to become a fervent advocate for nonviolent conflict resolution.

Jessica Tisch

The NYPD Police Commissioner who announced the decision to rename the police academy after Steven McDonald.

Conor McDonald

Steven McDonald's son, who is an NYPD captain and executive officer for the department's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Patti Ann McDonald

Steven McDonald's wife.

Shavod Jones

The 15-year-old robbery suspect who shot and paralyzed Steven McDonald in 1986.

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What they’re saying

“We remember not only the courage that he showed after his life was changed unimaginably, but the character Detective McDonald demonstrated through his refusal to be defined by bitterness, and his commitment to dignity and forgiveness.”

— Jessica Tisch, NYPD Police Commissioner (nypost.com)

“My hope is that every officer who walks through the doors of the Steven D. McDonald Police Academy begins their career with a clear understanding of the kind of officer this department hopes they strive to be.”

— Jessica Tisch, NYPD Police Commissioner (nypost.com)

“Steven McDonald didn't just exceed the standards — his life reshaped how the public understands the NYPD's work and how the department understands itself.”

— Jessica Tisch, NYPD Police Commissioner (nypost.com)

“I think my dad lived the example of what a New York City police officer is all about. Not only of honor, integrity — but also of bridging the gap between the police department, and the community, and he did that as a living example of sacrifice.”

— Conor McDonald, NYPD Captain, Steven McDonald's son (nypost.com)

“When my dad woke up every day, he prayed to God that he's still alive. He lived in honor of his family. … And he always lived in honor of the men and women that died before him and died after him.”

— Conor McDonald, NYPD Captain, Steven McDonald's son (nypost.com)

What’s next

The renaming of the NYPD Police Academy after Steven McDonald is expected to be completed by July 16, 2026 - 42 years to the day that McDonald himself joined the academy.

The takeaway

The renaming of the NYPD Police Academy after Steven McDonald is a powerful tribute that recognizes his remarkable life story and the positive impact he had on the department and the community. McDonald's message of forgiveness and nonviolence reshaped public understanding of the NYPD's values, and this honor ensures his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of officers.