Prior to 2004 she was named acting supervisor of the investigative branch on several occasions that then Chief McNeily was called into military reserve service.

Chief McDonald is a lifelong resident of the Sheraden neighborhood and before joining the bureau in 1978 was a long time teacher and then city park administrator—at one point in the mid-1970s actually holding down three jobs.

In 1984 she earned a second master's degree in administration of justice from the University of Pittsburgh with a final thesis concerning "police stress."

McDonald stated to press inquiries in January 2014 that she intends to retire around her 64th birthday in February 2014.

Mayor Peduto's staff, however, has given a 6 months or more timeline for finding a permanent chief.