Honoring Police Families: Two Officers Promoted in Moving Ceremony

On Friday, in an emotional ceremony honoring some of the finest members of the New York Police Department (NYPD), two officers received promotions with deep connections to law enforcement through their fathers who served and were shot while on duty. Conor McDonald, formerly a lieutenant now promoted to captain, paid tribute to his late father Steven McDonald’s legacy as he himself rose in rank within NYPD ranks. In 1986, Officer McDonald was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot three times during a patrol and spent thirty years of pain until his death last year. Captain Conor said that witnessing his dad’s love for law enforcement despite suffering through so much physical pain motivated him to follow in his father’s footsteps. Initially, McDonald’s mother was concerned when her son expressed an interest in joining the force like his paralyzed police officer dad. She proudly remarked “it wasn’t a path that I would have chosen for him but it was a path he chose and I am very proud of him.” Meanwhile, Francesca Mosomillo, who has been promoted to detective at age 28, also shares an intimate connection with the NYPD due to her late father Anthony. In 1998, Officer Anthony lost his life while on duty. Detective Mosomillo sees this new role as a calling and explained that being young when she lost her dad helped strengthen their bond in some way; perhaps it’s also an indication of where she belongs within the department’s ranks. Furthermore, another notable recipient was detective first grade Rob Rodriguez who received recognition for his heroic actions during ‘Miracle on The Hudson.’ Rodriguez commented that “the spirit which characterized what took place there defined a significant event in history; it wasn’t just about NYPD officers but also the entire city of New York.” During this collective effort to save 155 lives, everyone came together and worked as one.