Patrolman

Simon McDonnell

Accident
End of Watch December 7, 1897
Age 37
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman McDonnell died after being kicked in the head by his police horse.

Patrolman McDonnell was riding in a horse-drawn patrol wagon on Seventy-Second Street and East Drive in Central Park, Manhattan when the horse first began to kick and then tipped over the patrol wagon. Patrolman McDonnell was thrown to the ground near the horse and kicked in the head. The force of the kick fractured Patrolman McDonnell's skull, killing him.

Patrolman McDonnell had served with the New York Police Department for nine years and was assigned to the Elizabeth Street Station.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnkwkasc2k2z2x3t326b
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Simon. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman McDonnell gave the New York Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 7, 1897
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Simon is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1897, 14 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 131st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Simon was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Simon had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Simon among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Simon McDonnell

New York City Police Department · End of Watch December 7, 1897

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W

↑