Trooper William V. McDonagh, NY State Police,12/14/1975

On Sunday, December 14, 1975, Trooper William V. McDonagh, 24, assigned to the Monroe Barracks of the New York State Police, Troop F, responded to a radio run of a domestic disturbance in the Hamlet of Sugarloaf, Town of Chester.  Upon exiting his patrol car, Trooper McDonagh observed the body of Linda Manecke in the street, in front of a deli. Almost immediately McDonagh was shot by the victim's boyfriend, one Chris S. Georgeades, a local store owner.  The Trooper was struck three times by bullets from a .22 caliber rifle, with one of the rounds entering his forehead.  The suspect then took Trooper McDonagh’s service weapon, got into the patrol car, and broadcast on the radio, “I just shot a cop, come and get me”. Responding Troopers Austin and Ronan returned fire over Trooper McDonagh’s patrol car, fatally shooting Georgeades.

 Trooper McDonagh was a two year veteran of the NY State Police.  He left behind a wife, Helen, who was six months pregnant with their first child at the time of his death. Trooper McDonagh was the 15th New York State Trooper shot and killed since 1917.