Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Christopher McDonnell died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in a presumed exposure while on duty.
Detective McDonnell had served with the New York City Police Department for 29 years and was assigned to the Intelligence Bureau.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Detective Christopher B. McDonnell died on May 6, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 54.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 18 at New York City Police Department.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-12BB8188- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Detective McDonnell gave the New York City Police Department 29 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective McDonnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Christopher B. McDonnell is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 629 of 2,147 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 29.3% of this state's fallen. That is 20.2 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At New York City Police Department, 521 of 1237 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Christopher B. McDonnell's cause is highlighted.
How Christopher B. McDonnell Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher B. McDonnell is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
