Christopher John McDonald
Police Constable

Christopher John McDonald

Felonious
End of Watch May 17, 1978
Age 19
The Vigil Panel 199 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Found drowned in the River Ryton, just yards from where he had been beaten with his own truncheon and a brick while attempting to arrest a burglar, after responding to an alarm at a jeweller’s shop in Central Avenue, Worksop, during his night-time foot patrol. Having radioed for assistance and stating that he was in contact with the suspects, he subsequently sent a further message at 12.28am specifying the burglars’ whereabouts as he chased them across waste land, heading towards the river, but nothing further was heard from him.

Posthumously awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-GB-NOC-FEF991AD
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 8, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Constable McDonald served with the Nottinghamshire Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable McDonald.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location ENG
Platform Identity nco.ngm.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 17, 1978
Age 19
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Beaten

Police Constable Christopher John McDonald is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Nottinghamshire Constabulary, 1 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 14.3% of this agency's fallen.

Nottinghamshire Constabulary
1
of 7 officers
14.3% Felonious
ENG — Statewide
702
of 2,827 officers
24.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Christopher John McDonald's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Christopher John McDonald Compares

Age at End of Watch
19
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher John McDonald is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518