Officer Michael J. McDonald, San Francisco Police Department, California

Officer Michael J. McDonald

San Francisco Police Department, California

End of Watch Saturday, August 26, 1933

Michael J. McDonald

Officer McDonald was shot and killed by a man holding another man hostage in a local market.

A few days earlier a wealthy retired banker, answering a knock at his door, suddenly found himself at the mercy of a man standing there with a gun. For the next few days the suspect marched his victim from bank to bank forcing him to withdraw funds. As they went into a market to get some food the victim saw Officer McDonald coming toward them and shouted, "Get that man he's got a gun", and then started running at the same time. Officer McDonald drew his gun as the suspect drew his and shot him three times.

The suspect ran from the market and engaged in a gun battle with two officers on Mission Street near 8th Street where he was shot to death.

Officer McDonald was survived by his six children.

Bio

Age 40
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Most Recent Reflection

View all 7 Reflections

Alma-
My mother, June Kripp, was Emmett's first cousin. My grandfather's sister, Sadie, was Michael McDonald's husband and the mother of Emmett. June and I visited the graves of your father's family at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma many times. I am always particularly touched by the gravesites of Officer Michael McDonald and by that of his young son, little Myles "aka Milo," who died when a car veered off of the road (Clayton Street?) onto the sidewalk in front of the family home in San Francisco where Milo, then four years old, was playing.

You likely know that the 1971 film "Dirty Harry," starring Clint Eastwood, is dedicated to the fallen officers of the San Francisco police force. Officer McDonald's name scrolls, as I recall, at the end of the movie.

Roberta Kripp Prazak
Officer McDonald was the husband of my great aunt

November 11, 2016