When the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic first hit New York City in March of 2020, our Detectives, of course, remained on the front lines. Within a few weeks, six of our active Detectives passed away from the virus and the DEA fought for their deaths to be deemed in the line of duty.. First Grade Det. Christopher McDonnell died on May 6, 2020. Click on the pdf file link below to read his obituary from the Winter 2021 edition of the DEA’s magazine, The Gold Shield.