A coin toss placed Tim McCarthy in the line of fire
In short: On March 30, 1981, Tim McCarthy was not scheduled to be on duty. After losing a coin toss against a colleague, the Secret Service agent found himself shielding President Ronald Reagan from six bullets, taking a shot to the chest that nearly cost him his life.
The assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan occurred as he exited the Washington Hilton Hotel. The assailant, John Hinckley Jr., fired six bullets in just 1.7 seconds. During the chaos, Special Agent In Charge Jerry Parr moved the President toward a limousine, while McCarthy stepped into the line of fire, spreading his body to act as a shield. The gunman, John Hinckley Jr., opened fire as the President left a speech at the hotel. This sudden burst of gunfire lasted less than two seconds.
McCarthy was not wearing a bulletproof vest when he was struck by the fourth bullet. The projectile traversed his right lung, diaphragm, and the right lobe of his liver. Despite the severity of the wound, he underwent a two-hour surgery at George Washington University Hospital and made a full recovery. The bullet caused significant damage to his internal organs. Fortunately, he was operated on in close proximity to the President.
Beyond the immediate heroism, McCarthy's career spanned 22 years in the United States Secret Service, including eight years in the Presidential Protective Division. His tenure as Orland Park Police Chief began during May 1994. During 1998, he sought the Democratic ticket for Illinois Secretary of State, but Jesse White won with 55% of the vote, while McCarthy received 45%. Before his time in Orland Park, he served as a criminal investigator in Chicago for 14 years. He also previously held the role of special agent in charge for the Chicago Division.
McCarthy's legacy is defined by both his physical courage and his subsequent leadership. In 2016, he was named the first annual Chief of Police of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, recognized for his legislative advocacy and efforts to promote crisis intervention training and the use of Narcan. His accomplishments included helping build a police station that achieved LEED Gold certification. He also worked to establish a major crimes task force for the South Suburbs.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tim McCarthy
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