After being paralyzed for life by three bullets in 1986, New York Police Department (NYPD) Detective Steven D. McDonald has been inspiring audiences with his compelling testimony of the power of forgiveness. Students at J. Watson Bailey Middle School were treated to a special lesson in Character Education when Detective McDonald visited the school to share his harrowing story, joined by Bruderhof pastor Johann Christoph Arnold and author a book called Why Forgive? that includes McDonald’s story.

Detective McDonald’s journey began on a July night 20 years ago during a period of random violence that was plaguing New York City, where roving gangs practiced “wilding.” While on duty, Detective McDonald stopped near a lake in Central Park to question three boys, ages 13 to 15. Bending down to have a better look at what he thought might be a gun in the youngest boy’s sock, Detective McDonald was caught off guard when the oldest of the three youths pulled out a pistol and fired off three shots at Detective McDonald point blank, paralyzing him.

Despite this debilitating injury, Detective McDonald remained determined to work to build a better life for young people everywhere, and has used his story as a message of the liberating power of forgiveness.

Several years after the shooting, Detective McDonald received a phone call from the imprisoned young man who had shot him. The young man told Detective McDonald how sorry he was for the incident. The two went on to form a friendship, exchanging letters and phone calls and planned to team up to speak about nonviolence when the youth was released from prison — a release that occurred in 1995. Three days later, a phone rang in the McDonald’s home. The person on the other end of the line informed Detective McDonald the man who shot him had just been killed in motorcycle accident.

“Detective McDonald delivered a powerful and inspiring message about non-violent conflict resolution and forgiveness. Hopefully, our students will remember Detective McDonald’s words and focus on the positive,” said Julie Linton, principal of Bailey Middle School.