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Michael J. McDonald
Agency patch
Officer

Michael J. McDonald

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch August 26, 1933
Age 48
The Vigil Panel 147 · Column 2 · Line 10 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 105

Incident

Officer Michael McDonald was shot and killed by a man holding another man hostage at the Crystal Palace Market at Eighth Street and Market Street in San Francisco. 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 simultaneously. Officer McDonald drew his gun as the suspect drew his gun, and the suspect shot him three times. He was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds the next morning. 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. An innocent bystander was also wounded in the volley of gunfire. Officer McDonald was survived by his wife and six children. He is buried at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetary in Colma, California.

Survivors

Officer McDonald was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer McDonald served with the San Francisco Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer McDonald.

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

Agency

Department San Francisco Police Department
Type Police Department
Location San Francisco, CA
Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1933
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 48. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Francisco Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Michael J. McDonald

San Francisco Police Department · End of Watch August 26, 1933

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 57-W

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