Timothy J. McCarthy (born June 20, 1949) is an American retired police officer and special agent of the U.S. Secret Service. He is best known for defending then-president Ronald Reagan during the 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.

Early life

McCarthy was born on June 20, 1949, and was raised in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood. He graduated from St. Denis Grammar School and Leo Catholic High School. He then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He joined the Fighting Illini football team as a 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.

While there, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He served 22 years in the United States Secret Service.

Law enforcement career

His career included eight years assigned to the Presidential Protective Division in Washington, D.C., and 14 years as a criminal investigator in Chicago. McCarthy was the special agent in charge of the Secret Service Chicago Division from 1989 until his retirement in October 1993.

Reagan assassination attempt

thumb|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. 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.

He was struck in the chest by the fourth bullet, the bullet traversing McCarthy's right lung, diaphragm, and right lobe of the liver. McCarthy was not wearing a bulletproof vest.

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. He was later released after a two-hour surgery.

Post-Secret Service career

McCarthy became the Chief of the Orland Park Police Department in May 1994.

In 1998, he ran for the Democratic nomination for Illinois Secretary of State against Jesse White of Chicago, then the Recorder of Deeds for Cook County, and State Senator Penny Severns of Decatur. White won the primary election with 55% of the vote to McCarthy's 45% of the vote, or a margin of 100,195 votes.

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.

From July 2016 to April 2017 he served as the acting village manager of Orland Park. 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.

On July 1, 2020, McCarthy announced his retirement, effective August 1, 2020.

Personal life

McCarthy and his wife were married for 47 years at the time of his retirement in July 2020. They have three children.

References

  • Orland Park Police Department-Meet the Chief of Police
  • McCarthy Biography
  • 2005 Illinois Bar Association Award