Documentary on NYPD Hero Stephen McDonald Explores Forgiveness

A new documentary titled “Saint of the City” focuses on Stephen McDonald, a paralyzed NYPD officer who became an emblem of forgiveness and peace. A decade after his passing, the film highlights his incredible journey from being a shooting victim in Central Park to an inspiration worldwide.

The documentary captures various phases of McDonald’s life, including his recovery in Denver, his spiritual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, and his visit to Northern Ireland, where he supported victims of the 1998 Omagh car bombing that claimed 29 lives. The film includes interviews from several key individuals, including the brother of the teenage shooter, McDonald’s widow, and their son, who serves as a lieutenant in the NYPD.

In 1986, McDonald was shot three times while undercover investigating bicycle thefts. The gunman, a 15-year-old named Shabbod Jones, struck McDonald in the spine, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down and reliant on a ventilator. Remarkably, within a year, McDonald offered forgiveness to the boy through a letter read by his wife.

Jones was imprisoned for nearly nine years for attempted murder before dying in a motorcycle accident shortly after his release. McDonald himself passed away in 2017 from a heart attack at age 59.

The film, created by former Emmy-winning reporter Mary Murphy and ex-DEA agent Erin Mulvey, poses a thought-provoking question: why can’t slain police officers be considered saints? According to Murphy, true saintly qualities include “heroic virtue,” and she feels McDonald exemplified this better than anyone she knows.

Murphy expressed concern about the lack of progress on McDonald’s canonization nearly ten years after his death. “We wanted to discover what made him so sacred and special,” she shared.

Mulvey added that the documentary is about more than just McDonald’s tragic experience; it focuses on how he chose to respond to his circumstances. Having personally lost her husband, she found McDonald’s story incredibly moving.

After viewing the film, Patricia MacDonald, Stephen’s widow, was emotional, reflecting on their youth and the journey they shared. “I prayed for him to rise from his chair, but watching it all unfold was deeply moving,” she admitted, highlighting the support they received from others during their struggles.

At McDonald’s funeral, their son Connor honored him as “our saint,” noting his father’s unwavering faith even after the shooting. He expressed belief in his father’s saintly legacy, saying, “When people feel inspired to take action, my father’s name will always be remembered.”

The documentary has received funding from organizations like the New York City Police Foundation but isn’t anticipated for wide release. Instead, an exclusive screening is set for July.