Sep 30, 2008 11:50 pm US/Eastern
City Bids Final Farewell To Another Fallen Officer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Sgt. Patrick McDonald, 30, was shot and killed in the line of duty on September 23.
CBS
The city of Philadelphia bid a final farewell to another officer killed in the line of duty.
Highway Patrol Sgt. Patrick McDonald, slain during a foot pursuit of a wanted fugitive in North Philadelphia on September 23, was posthumously promoted to Sergeant Tuesday as his family, friends and comrades, gathered to say goodbye.
Fellow officers, along with Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, followed a traditional horse-drawn funeral caisson during an early morning procession to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
During an emotional speech looking back at the life of Sgt. McDonald, Commissioner Ramsey said he has been granted permission to promote 12 officers to the position of sergeant and McDonald is on the list.
Both McDonald's current badge number and his posthumously awarded sergeant badge number will be retired.
"You earned the wings of a Highway Patrol officer, but now you've earned another set of wings, the wings of an angel," Ramsey said.
Following the service, a procession led Sgt. McDonald to his final resting place at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem.
Daniel Giddings, 27, fatally shot the 30-year-old officer during an altercation after a routine traffic stop. Giddings was eventually shot and killed during a shootout with Officer Richard Bowes.
Bowes was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the hip, but was released in time to attend McDonald's funeral.
Sgt. McDonald is the fourth Philadelphia Police officer killed in the line of duty within the past year.
Less than two weeks ago, fellow officers buried one of their own, 40-year-old Officer Isabel Nazario, who was killed when her police cruiser was struck by a suspect during a pursuit.
"It's one too many and too often and it's a painful thing for us all and we need the public's support now more than we ever have," Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross said.
DONATION INFORMATION:In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the "Officer Patrick McDonald Memorial Scholarship Fund", c/o Archbishop Ryan High School, 11201 Academy Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154.
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