A Northern California neighborhood is outraged after thieves stole bronze stars and plaques from a metropolis constructing and memorials honoring fallen officers and troopers in Solano county.
Twenty-one bronze stars devoted to the reminiscence of fallen officers and deputies have been ripped out of the Peace Officer Memorial (POM) in Fairfield, in response to a put up on social media from the Solano County Sheriff’s workplace.
The despicable thieves not solely stole from the officer memorial, but additionally from the city’s Veterans memorial which honors those that served our nation.
“These accountable not solely desecrated our POM—which honors 21 regulation enforcement officers who gave their lives in service to this county and the individuals they swore to guard—but additionally focused our Veterans Memorial, stealing plaques that acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the women and men of Solano County who served our nation,” the put up from the sheriff’s workplace learn.
“Moreover, bronze plaques on county and courthouse buildings have been stolen.”
“Let me be clear: this was not easy theft, and never random vandalism,” the put up learn. “These have been deliberate, calculated acts at locations of honor, remembrance, and public service.”
“This was an assault on the reminiscence of fallen peace officers, veterans, and the households who carry their legacy. It was an assault on the neighborhood and the values we stand for—honor, sacrifice, respect, and decency.”
Solano County Sheriff Brad DeWall stated they’re reviewing surveillance video and can discover the individual or individuals who did this.
“In my 35 years right here, we’ve by no means had this occur. Who would stoop this low to pry stars from people who have sacrificed their lives for this county, for this career, for this neighborhood?” DeWall advised ABC7.
The Veterans Memorial in Vallejo was additionally hit, the place all of the plaques have been stolen.
Retired Vallejo police officer Ron Turner stated the neighborhood is “madder than hell, they usually’re not going to take it anymore, they usually’ve been extraordinarily vocal.”
“I don’t suppose the crooks, the dangerous guys, notice that these stars have been like, $2,600 a chunk, and so the loss, for those who simply do the tough math, put you someplace in that $54,000 class,” Turner advised the outlet.
Making issues even worse, the Fairfield neighborhood is simply days away from its annual memorial ceremony on Might 13 “when regulation enforcement, households, and neighborhood members collect to honor the sacrifice of those 21 heroes,” per the put up.
“To these accountable: hear me clearly. You didn’t steal mere metallic—you stole symbols of sacrifice, responsibility, braveness, and patriotism.”
The put up added, “You violated locations of remembrance that maintain deep which means for this county. We’ll work tirelessly to seek out you and guarantee you’re held totally accountable underneath the regulation.”
The division has additionally vowed to revive the memorials.
“This county doesn’t overlook its heroes. We is not going to tolerate those that dishonor them.”
Late Thursday, the sheriff’s workplace posted that there had been at the least one arrest thus far within the case. Joshua Gonzales, 40, of Vallejo was arrested with expenses pending.
“Officers recovered lots of of kilos of lower metallic from the memorial thefts,” Sergeant Rex Hawkins PIO for the sheriff’s workplace advised The Publish.
Hawkins stated the investigation is energetic and ongoing.
Following the arrest, DeWall stated he “couldn’t be prouder of our Detectives and allied companies who labored tirelessly chasing leads and fixing this crime. As I’ve stated we’ll discover you,” per the put up.
Hawkins stated the division is engaged on a brief repair for the peace officer memorial and a everlasting substitute sooner or later.
