By Joanna Putman
Police1
NEW YORK — The NYPD recently held a promotion ceremony for 177 officers, including two whose fathers were NYPD officers shot in the line of duty.
Conor McDonald, 38, was promoted to captain, CBS News New York reported. He is the son of Detective Steven McDonald, who survived being shot in 1986 and was left paralyzed. Despite his severe injuries, he forgave his assailant, according to the report.
McDonald, who passed away in 2017, had always aspired for his son to reach the rank of captain.
“This is one rank my dad discussed with me, that it was his dream and my dream,” McDonald told CBS New York. “My dad said, before he passed, ‘love is the way’. Life can be tough, chaotic, and tough and painful, and there’s a lot of great people in this world, so love is the way.”
Francesca Mosomillo, 28, was promoted to detective, inheriting her late father’s police shield number, according to the report. Her father, Officer Anthony Mosomillo, was killed in the line of duty in 1998.
“I’m really proud of myself. I’m very humbled that I’m bringing my dad’s police shield into the detective borough,” she said.
The ceremony also recognized recently fallen officer Jonathan Diller, whose partner, Veckash Khedna, was promoted to detective, according to the report.