Son of disabled cop joins NYPD ranks

As the son of a New York City police officer who was disabled in the line of the duty, Conor McDonald was the center of attention Tuesday among the new class of NYPD recruits.

During a swearing-in ceremony at York College in Jamaica, the 23-year-old from Malverne was singled out by the mayor and police commissioner for his decision to carry a badge and follow in the footsteps of his father, Steven.

In 1986, Steven McDonald was on patrol in Central Park for the NYPD when he was shot by 15-year-old Shavod Jones. McDonald survived, but was paralyzed from the neck down. Jones was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He died shortly after his release.

Tuesday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said when he heard Conor McDonald was going to become the fourth generation of his family to sign up, "I just sort of had another warm spot in my heart to realize how wonderful this country is. . . . . The family has paid an enormous price and yet they continue to want to give back to this city and keep us all safe. Thank God we have people like this family."

Said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly: "We as an organization are extremely fortunate to have a man of his caliber join our ranks, and of course it's more than that, with his father and the great sacrifice that he's made."

To McDonald, who comes from a family dedicated to public service - his mother, Patricia, is the mayor of Malverne - the decision was easy.

"I come from four generations of NYPD and it's the greatest city in the world," he said afterward. "The City of New York did a lot of great things for my family in 1986 when my father was shot, and I felt compelled to serve and protect them."

And he is well aware of the risks.

"You know, it's a dangerous world out there, but a lot of things can happen. I am going to do the best to protect the people of New York, protect my partners and myself and get home in one piece."

McDonald was among 1,250 new NYPD recruits who were sworn in as cadets and will spend the next six months training to join the NYPD. His may have been the most compelling story, but it wasn't the only among a group that is expected to begin replenishing the department ranks after cuts in recent years due to the economy - last year's class had 104 recruits.

The group includes retired Army Spc. Christopher Galvez, 30, of Brooklyn, who was wounded in Mosul, Iraq, during a tour of duty in 2004-05.

Also among the recruits is Barry Driscoll, 24, of Putnam County, whose father, Officer Stephen Driscoll, was killed Sept. 11, 2001, after responding to the Twin Towers as a member of the department's emergency services unit.

Afterward, sporting a navy pinstripe suit, a yellow tie and the customary crew cut, the baby-faced McDonald carefully answered questions, making sure to include his classmates wherever appropriate.

"There are 1,200 other people out there who want to do the same thing. We are all excited to start the academy and learn from our instructors."