After surviving a shooting on July 12, 1986, that left him paralyzed, NYPD Detective Steven McDonald of Malverne became an example of forgiveness and love for people around the world. Appointed to the New York City Police Department on July 16, 1984, his life changed drastically when he was shot three times while responding to a bicycle theft in Central Park. Several months later, he forgave his attacker. Despite his injuries and confinement to a wheelchair, he remained an active member of the NYPD, was promoted to Detective in 1995, supported other wounded NYPD officers, and became involved with the program Breaking the Cycle, which promotes forgiveness and nonviolent conflict resolution. The pond, originally called the Model Boat Pond, was renamed in 1988 during the Village of Rockville Centre's 75th Anniversary to honor his life and legacy.