Patrolman John McDermott died of rabies he contracted when he was bitten by an injured dog he was trying to help.
Patrolman McDermott was on his post when a dog, dragging an injured leg, approached. The temperature that night was six degrees above zero, and the dog whined from cold and hunger. Patrolman McDermott opened the door of his police booth, and the dog entered. Patrolman McDermott began to pet the dog on his head when the dog suddenly snapped at him. The dog's teeth cut through the cloth of his uniform and left a small scratch on his arm.
Two months later, Patrolman McDermott began to feel pain and develop symptoms of rabies. He was taken to Kings County Hospital where he died.
Patrolman McDermott was assigned the 44th Precinct, which is the present day 75th Precinct.