What's happening
This bill designates a bridge in Hempstead, Nassau County as the "Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Bridge" in his honor.
Why it matters
Honors Detective Steven McDonald. By naming the bridge after Detective McDonald, the bill recognizes his legacy and sacrifice, elevating awareness of his contributions to public safety and community healing.
Ceremonial Designation Only. The bill specifies that the bridge's official name will not change for legal or logistical purposes, minimizing potential confusion for emergency services, mapping, and commerce.
State Commitment to Memorialization. Requires the state Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage, ensuring the memorial is visible to the public and maintained as a long-term tribute.
Local Impact and Community Identity. The designation serves as a point of pride and reflection for Hempstead and Nassau County, promoting local history and values to residents and travelers.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Name Bridge for Detective
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Name Bridge for Detective
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Brian F. Curran
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 5546 A. 7113
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
April 10, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. CURRAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system in the town of Hempstead, county of Nassau, as the "Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Bridge"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 344-f to read as follows:
§ 344-f. Portion of the state highway system to be designated as the "Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Bridge". The bridge on Peninsula Boulevard over the Southern State Parkway (BIN 1059469 and BIN 1520229), in the town of Hempstead, county of Nassau, shall be designated and known as the "Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Bridge".
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system as designated pursuant to section one of this act; provided that, to avoid any confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the designation called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such bridge shall not be changed as a result of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10777-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system in the town of Hempstead, county of Nassau, as the "Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Bridge"
Purpose
To honor the memory of New York City Police Department Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot in the line of duty in July of 1986, and subsequently passed away in January of 2017.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 designates the bridge on Peninsula Boulevard over the Southern State Parkway (BIN 1059469 and BIN 1520229) in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, the "Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Bridge."
Justification
In 1986, Steven McDonald was a New York City Police Officer, who was shot by a 15 year old boy while on plainclothes patrol in Central Park. In the aftermath of the shooting, Steven McDonald remained fully paralyzed from the chin down, but was able to clearly and repeatedly articulate his Roman Catholic faith and forgiveness toward the young man who shot him.
Steven McDonald's bravery, both in his professional life as a police official and in his private life of faith, earned him the astonished affection and regard of everyone who was touched by his gesture of forgiveness toward the person whose actions devastated Detective McDonald and his young family.
After leaving the hospital, Detective McDonald was able to speak haltingly and breath only with the assistance of a respirator. Despite these limitations and his paralysis, he continued to appear publicly by attending police roll calls, helping other wounded officers and publicly appearing to repeatedly share his belief that when forgiveness is granted, it will be also be received by the person granting it. His message of peace and love had a tangible ripple effect that continues to be felt to this day.
This bridge dedication is a fitting gesture and establishes a permanent tribute to Detective McDonald's bravery. It will honor the memory of this hero, who sacrificed so much in his life of public service. The bridge is located in the incorporated Village of Malverne in Nassau County, where Detective McDonald's widow, Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald, resides and holds the position of Mayor of Malverne. Mayor McDonald, in her personal life and in her position as Mayor, has continued her husband's path of public service, kindness and regard for others. With her unshakable faith and her bravery and courage in the face of tragedy that would have staggered others, she too, embodies the traits Steven McDonald so cherished until the day he died. In doing so, Patricia truly lives out the legacy of her husband and is a beacon of hope and inspiration to others.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Effective date
Immediate
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.