A hero’s final send-off for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald began Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, as thousands of police officers filed into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. Earlier in the week, a public wake drew crowds to pay their respects in Rockville Centre.
McDonald, the quadriplegic NYPD officer who inspired generations by forgiving the teenager who shot him and overcoming his disabilities to remain an active cop, died Tuesday at North Shore University Hospital, officials said. He was 59.
Patricia McDonald, center, wife of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald, carries the flag that draped her husband's coffin following his funeral mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. At right, is her son Conor, a sergeant with the NYPD. (Credit: Newsday)
Patricia Ann McDonald stands with her son Sgt. Connor McDonald by the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald during the graveside service at Holy Rood Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 in Westbury. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
Patricia Ann McDonald kisses the coffin of her husband, NYPD Det. Steven McDonald, while her son Sgt. Connor McDonald looks on during the graveside service at Holy Rood Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 in Westbury. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
NYPD officers line Old Country Road as the hearse carrying the coffin of Det. Steve McDonald heads into Holy Rood Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, in Westbury. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
NYPD officers line Old Country Road as the hearse carrying the coffin of Det. Steve McDonald heads into Holy Rood Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, in Westbury. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
Patricia McDonald, center, wife of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald, and her son Conor, right, are greeted by former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, following a funeral mass for McDonald at St.Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Conor McDonald is a sargeant with the NYPD. (Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas)
NYPD Det. Steven McDonald wife Patricia getting a hug from Rockville Center Bishiop William Murphy as they depart from St. Patrick Cathedral after the funeral mass in New York City, Friday Jan 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
As the body of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald leave St. Patrick's Cathedral after the funeral mass, son Conor salutes while standing next to his mother Patricia in New York City, Friday Jan 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
The funeral mass is over for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald with his wife Patricia, son Conor and other love ones pouring out the doors of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, Friday Jan 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
Cardinal Timothy Dolan sprinkles holy water on the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald, as Patricia McDonald and her son, Conor McDonald, second and third from right, stand to let the coffin pass while leaving the funeral Mass for Steven McDonald on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. (Credit: Craig Ruttle)
Former Rangers hockey player Mark Messier leaves St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, after the funeral Mass for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald. (Credit: John Roca)
Patricia McDonald, the wife of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald, carries the flag that draped her husband's coffin as she leaves the funeral Mass Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. At right is their son, NYPD Sgt. Conor McDonald. (Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas)
NYPD officer Conor McDonald, standing with his mother Patricia McDonald and son of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald, salutes a casket holding his father's remains Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, after funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. (Credit: Craig Ruttle)
Pallbearers carry the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald from St. Patrick's Cathedral after a funeral Mass Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Craig Ruttle)
The coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald is carried into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan for a funeral Mass on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
The coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald is carried into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan for a funeral Mass on Friday Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
NYPD Det. Steven McDonald's coffin is shouldered for a march into St. Patrick's Cathedral for a funeral Mass Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
A large contingent of police officers, many from the NYPD, line Fifth Avenue in Manhattan Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, for the funeral procession of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald at St. Patrick's Cathedral. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
Family and friends of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald wait outside St. Patrick's Cathedral Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, awaiting the arrival of his coffin for a funeral Mass. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
Pallbearers carry the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Craig Ruttle)
Pallbearers carry the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald from its hearse into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas)
Pallbearers carry the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald from its hearse into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas)
Roman Catholic clergy led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan await the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald before a funeral Mass Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
The hearse bearing the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald is escorted along Fifth Avenue Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, toward St. Patrick's Cathedral for a funeral Mass. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
The funeral procession for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald makes its way down Fifth Ave. in Manhattan, where a funeral mass for McDonald was held on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas)
The funeral procession for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald arrives outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas)
Police officers salute as the funeral Mass for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald gets underway at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: John Roca)
Pallbearers carry the coffin of NYPD Det. Steven McDonald into St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 . (Credit: Craig Ruttle)
Police escort leads the hearse carrying the coffin of Det. Steven McDonald on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 in Rockville Centre. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
Sgt. Conor McDonald leaves the Parish Center at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre ahead of the coffin of his father Det. Steven McDonald on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
The coffin of Det. Steven McDonald leaves the Parish Center at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
NYPD officers preparing for the funeral Mass for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday, Jan 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
NYPD officers preparing for the funeral Mass for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, Friday Jan 13, 2017. (Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.)
NYPD Sgt. Conor McDonald and Patricia Ann McDonald speak about Det. Steven McDonald during the wake at the Parish Center at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)
NYPD Sgt. Conor McDonald along with his mom Patricia Ann McDonald and Police Commissioner James O'Neill gave statements of thanks during wake for NYPD Det. Steven McDonald at St. Agnes Parish in Rockville Centre Jan 12, 2017.