Editing Tim McCarthy

{{Short description|Former United States Secret Service special agent (born 1949)}}
{{redirect|Timothy J. McCarthy|the building|Timothy J. McCarthy Building}}
{{Infobox person
| image          = Tim McCarthy biopic.png
| image_size     =
| caption = McCarthy in 1981, moments before the shooting
| birth_name     = Timothy J. McCarthy
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1949|06|20}} 
| birth_place    = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date     =   
| death_place    = 
| occupation     = [[United States Secret Service#Special Agent|Secret Service special agent]]<br />[[Chief of police]]
| alma_mater     = [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br />[[Lewis University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
| known_for      = Saving [[Ronald Reagan|President Reagan]] during his [[Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan|assassination attempt]]
| children       = 3
}}
'''Timothy J. McCarthy''' (born June 20, 1949) is an American retired [[police officer]] and [[special agent]] of the [[United States Secret Service|U.S. Secret Service]]. He is best known for defending then-president [[Ronald Reagan]] during the [[Reagan assassination attempt|assassination attempt]] on Reagan's life on March 30, 1981, in [[Washington, D.C.]]

During the assassination attempt, McCarthy spread his stance to protect Reagan as six bullets were being fired by the would-be assassin, [[John Hinckley Jr.]]<ref name="cbs04" /> McCarthy stepped in front of President Reagan, taking a bullet to the chest, but made a full recovery. 

After the assassination attempt, McCarthy was hailed as a hero and received the [[NCAA Award of Valor]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |title=All-Time Honors Award Winners |url=http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/events/awards/all-time-honors-award-winners |website=NCCA.ORG |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=2019-11-01 |archive-date=2019-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112042511/http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/events/awards/all-time-honors-award-winners |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>By means of the NCAA Award of Valor, the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] recognizes "courageous action or noteworthy bravery" by persons involved with intercollegiate athletics. McCarthy had played [[NCAA football]] at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign|University of Illinois]].</ref>

==Early life==
McCarthy was born on June 20, 1949, and was raised in Chicago's [[Ashburn, Chicago|Ashburn]] neighborhood. He graduated from St. Denis Grammar School and [[Leo Catholic High School]]. He then attended the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]].<ref name=ACTING>{{cite web|url=http://www.theregionalnews.com/index.php/newsx/160-local-news/top-news-story-2/35073-chief-mccarthy-named-interim-village-manager|title=Chief McCarthy named interim village manager|author=Connolly, Dermot|publisher=[[The Regional News]]|date=July 14, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820115327/http://www.theregionalnews.com/index.php/newsx/160-local-news/top-news-story-2/35073-chief-mccarthy-named-interim-village-manager|url-status=live}}</ref> 

He joined the [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Fighting Illini football team]] as a [[walk on (sports)|walk on]] in his freshman year. He earned a football scholarship for his sophomore year and played as [[strong safety]] his junior year before an injury ended his college career.<ref name=SECSTATE1>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/10/21/secret-service-hero-bucks-odds-in-political-run/|title=Secret Service Hero Bucks Odds In Political Run: McCarthy Announces Candidacy|author=Tybor, Joseph|publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=October 21, 1997|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114234307/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-10-21/news/9710210273_1_political-run-statewide-office-party|url-status=live}}</ref> 

While there, he was a member of [[Delta Tau Delta]].<ref name=RECOVER>{{cite web|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2014-08-06/reagan-assassination-attempt-forever-linked-pair-illini.html|title=Reagan assassination attempt forever linked pair of Illini|author=Des Garennes, Christine|publisher=[[The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana)|The News-Gazette]]|date=August 6, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114170344/http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2014-08-06/reagan-assassination-attempt-forever-linked-pair-illini.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He served 22 years in the [[United States Secret Service]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-01 |title=Timothy McCarthy, who took a bullet for President Reagan, to retire as Orland Park police chief |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/1/21310202/timothy-mccarthy-retire-orland-park-police-chief-ronald-reagan-secret-service |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref>

==Law enforcement career==
His career included eight years assigned to the Presidential Protective Division in [[Washington D.C.|Washington, D.C.]], and 14 years as a [[criminal investigator]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orland Park police Chief Tim McCarthy, the Secret Service agent shot while protecting President Reagan, to retire after 26 years |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/ct-sta-orland-park-police-chief-retirement-st-0702-20200701-blsphusyovewfbjuowivbeby3i-story.html |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=July 2020 }}</ref> McCarthy was the special agent in charge of the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] Chicago Division from 1989 until his retirement in October 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-11 |title=Nancy Reagan and the Agent Who Took a Bullet for Her Husband Shared Special Bond |url=https://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/nancy-reagan-agent-who-took-bullet-her-husband-shared-special-bond |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Orland Park, IL Patch |language=en}}</ref>

== Reagan assassination attempt ==
{{Main article|Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan}}
[[Image:President Ronald Reagan moments before he was shot in an assassination attempt 1981.jpg|thumb|250px|McCarthy (far right) moments before the attempted assassination of Reagan (waving). Left, in white trenchcoat, [[Jerry Parr]], who pushed the President, body-sheltered by McCarthy, into the car.]]

On March 30, 1981, [[John Hinckley Jr.]] opened fire on President [[Ronald Reagan]] as he exited the Washington Hilton Hotel after giving a speech, firing six bullets in 1.7 seconds.<ref name="wilber2011">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PdCLMpSY5qkC&pg=PP1|title=Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan|author=Wilber, Del Quentin|publisher=Macmillan|year=2011|isbn=978-0-8050-9346-9}}</ref> As [[Special Agent In Charge]] [[Jerry Parr]] quickly pushed Reagan into the limousine, McCarthy put himself in the line of fire and spread his body in front of Reagan to make himself a target.<ref name="dis20101213">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Jid5uRFo4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/N1Jid5uRFo4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Reagan Assassination Attempt |date=2010-12-13 |type=YouTube |publisher=Discovery UK}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="cbs04">{{cite web|last=Crean|first=Ellen|date=June 11, 2004|publisher=CBS|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/he-took-a-bullet-for-reagan/|title=He Took a Bullet for Reagan|quote='In the Secret Service,' [McCarthy] continued, 'we're trained to cover and evacuate the president. And to cover the president, you have to get as large as you can, rather than hitting the deck.'}}</ref>{{r|wilber2011}}{{r|reagan.com}} He was struck in the chest by the fourth bullet, the bullet traversing McCarthy's right lung, [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]], and right lobe of the [[liver]].<ref name=reagan.com>[http://www.ronaldreagan.com/march30.html "March 30, 1981"] Reagan's reflections on the assassination attempt, Ronaldreagan.com. Retrieved March 5, 2007. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227230834/http://www.ronaldreagan.com/march30.html|date=December 27, 2010}}</ref><ref name=three>Feaver, Douglas. "Three men shot at the side of their President", ''The Washington Post'', March 31, 1981.</ref><ref name=two>Hunter, Marjorie. "2 in Reagan security detail are wounded outside hotel", ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 31, 1981.</ref> McCarthy was not wearing a [[bulletproof]] vest.{{fact|date=July 2024}}

McCarthy was not supposed to be on duty that day. At the last minute, the Secret Service received a request for an officer to provide protection to Reagan for an AFL-CIO luncheon on March 31. McCarthy and a colleague flipped a coin to see who would have to fill in on their day off; McCarthy lost.<ref name="wilber2011" />

McCarthy was taken to [[George Washington University Hospital]], and was operated on near the president.<ref name="ssreport19810504">{{Cite web |url=http://www.secretservice.gov/Reagan%20Assassination%20Attempt%20Interview%20Reports.pdf |title=Reagan Assassination Attempt Interview Reports |last=Office of Inspection |publisher=United States Secret Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721062148/https://www.secretservice.gov/Reagan%20Assassination%20Attempt%20Interview%20Reports.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21 |access-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> He was later released after a 2-hour surgery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reagan Wounded In Chest By Gunman; Outlook 'Good' After 2-Hour Surgery; Aide And 2 Guards Shot; Suspect Held |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0330.html |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=archive.nytimes.com}}</ref>

== Post-Secret Service career ==
McCarthy became the Chief of the [[Orland Park]] Police Department in May 1994.<ref name="Chief of Police">{{cite web|title=Orland Park Police Chief Timothy McCarthy Announces Retirement|url=https://www.orlandpark.org/Home/Components/News/News/154/|author=Zegar, Nabeha|publisher= Orland Park|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=July 1, 2020|access-date=July 19, 2024|archive-date=July 19, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240719130221/https://www.orlandpark.org/Home/Components/News/News/154/}}</ref> 

[[1998 Illinois elections#Secretary of State|In 1998]], he ran for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nomination for [[Illinois Secretary of State]] against [[Jesse White (politician)|Jesse White]] of [[Chicago]], then the [[Recorder of Deeds]] for [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]], and State Senator [[Penny Severns]] of [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]].<ref name=SECSTATE1/> Severns was removed from the ballot after failing to meet the signature requirement. McCarthy ran an outsider campaign that took a law-enforcement approach to the Secretary of State's office including standardized DUI tests and easier to read license plates.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/1998/ii980130.html|title=Secretary of State? Why are so many people competing for the chance to issue you your driver's license? Because it's the second most powerful state job. And arguably the most visible|author=Davis, Jennifer|others=Illustrations by Mike Cramer|date=January 15, 1998|journal=Illinois Issues|publisher=[[University of Illinois Springfield]]|access-date=November 13, 2016|archive-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114172641/http://www.lib.niu.edu/1998/ii980130.html|url-status=live}}</ref> White won the primary election with 55% of the vote to McCarthy's 45% of the vote, or a margin of 100,195 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://montgomeryco.com/countyclerk/elections/results/3-17-1998.pdf| title=Election Results: General Primary (March 17, 1998)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|date=March 17, 1998}}</ref>

He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] in Finance from the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]], and a [[Master of Science ]]in Criminal/Social Justice from [[Lewis University]].<ref name="Chief of Police"/>

In March 2016, he was awarded the first annual Chief of Police of the Year award by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. The award cited his legislative advocacy, supervision of the building of the country's first police station to receive a [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] Gold certification, working to establish the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, promoting crisis intervention training for officers and the use of [[Naloxone|Narcan]] to prevent heroin overdoses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/orland-park-chief-tim-mccarthy-named-states-police-chief-year-2016|title=Orland Park Chief Tim McCarthy Named State's Police Chief of the Year for 2016|author=Traut, Lauren|publisher=[[Patch Media|Orland Park Patch]]|date=March 26, 2016|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114170219/http://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/orland-park-chief-tim-mccarthy-named-states-police-chief-year-2016|url-status=live}}</ref> From July 2016 to April 2017 he served as the acting village manager of Orland Park.<ref name=ACTING /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-94536967/|title=Orland Park names village manager|author=Nolan, Mike|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413224112/http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-94536967/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He later served as the corporate vice president of a security systems company, and appeared in speaking engagements at schools and conventions, where he related his experiences as a Secret Service Agent during the Reagan administration.{{fact|date=July 2024}}

On July 1, 2020, McCarthy announced his retirement effective August 1, 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Proctor|first=Clare|title=Timothy McCarthy, who took a bullet for President Reagan, to retire as Orland Park police chief|date=July 1, 2020|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=July 2, 2020|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/1/21310202/timothy-mccarthy-retire-orland-park-police-chief-ronald-reagan-secret-service|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702010821/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/1/21310202/timothy-mccarthy-retire-orland-park-police-chief-ronald-reagan-secret-service|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
McCarthy and his wife were married for 47 years at the time of his retirement in July 2020. They have three children.<ref name="Chief of Police"/>

McCarthy was interviewed in 2016 about the release of John Hinckley Jr., stating, "I don't have to agree with it, but I expected it. There are very few cases that people, after a period of time, are viewed as no longer being a danger to themselves or others. I hope they're right about it. It's a big decision. I give the judge credit. That's what he gets paid for."<ref>Ben Nuckols and Joe Mandak (August 1, 2016). [http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2d8cd4f8faf84755898a573c993c9efd/wounded-officers-struggle-news-hinckleys-release John Hinckley story] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026001859/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2d8cd4f8faf84755898a573c993c9efd/wounded-officers-struggle-news-hinckleys-release |date=2016-10-26 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://archive.today/20130421174946/http://www.orland-park.il.us/index.asp?nid=141 Orland Park Police Department-Meet the Chief of Police]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100911204520/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hinckley/mccarthy.htm McCarthy Biography]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061003061918/http://www.orland-park.il.us/news/pr/prlawenforceaward.pdf 2005 Illinois Bar Association Award]

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Tim}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:American police chiefs]]
[[Category:People from Chicago]]
[[Category:Illinois Democrats]]
[[Category:United States Secret Service agents]]
[[Category:Gies College of Business alumni]]
[[Category:American shooting survivors]]
[[Category:Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan]]
[[Category:People from Orland Park, Illinois]]
[[Category:Wardens of the Auburn Correctional Facility]]
[[Category:Law enforcement officials from Chicago]]
[[Category:Law enforcement officials from Washington, D.C.]]