A memorial dedicated to fallen cops in Portland, Oregon, was vandalized this week, in accordance with the Portland Police Association.
In a statement on Facebook, the association’s president Sgt. Aaron Schmautz said the memorial in Tom McCall Waterfront Park was damaged in some unspecified time in the future within the night on Tuesday. Individual plaques dedicated to fallen officers were missing pictures, and names had been scratched out.
Schmautz called the destruction “startling and ugly” and said whoever is chargeable for it’s silly and shortsighted.
“As a current member of Honor Guard, my heart is dismayed at such a cowardly and silly act. The Police Memorial stands as a permanent reminder of the final word sacrifice paid by heroes in Portland who gave their lives to defend strangers in our community. Each of those individuals are also etched on the wall of the national memorial in Washington DC.,” Schmautz said.
Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell told Fox 12 Oregon the vandalism is “senseless, destructive and intentional,” adding that the try and “dishonor” the memory of those that lost their lives serving the town of Portland is “disgraceful.”
“This memorial honors heroes—individuals who had the courage to offer their lives while serving the City of Portland. No amount of destruction can erase their legacy. My heart goes out to the families and family members of the people named on the memorial,” Lovell told the outlet.
As of Thursday evening, an arrest had not been made in connection with the vandalism.
Schmautz called on the town of Portland to help within the rebuilding process, ensuring the place of remembrance could be restored.
“The memory of those that are named there may be ingrained within the very bedrock of our city. It’s carried within the hearts and on every patch and badge worn by the officers who stand watch now, carrying on their mission. No silly or cowardly act can change that,” he said. “They might be remembered. Those that flit around within the shadows to destroy is not going to.”
Portland City Council released the next statement to local media condemning the act and committing to the memorial’s reconstruction:
“The Portland City Council condemns the despicable vandalization of the Portland Police Memorial, a site that honors Portland Police Officers who died in the road of duty. The memorial has stood on Portland’s Waterfront Park for nearly 30 years in recognition of their service to Portlanders. This ugly criminal act seeks only to fuel divisive and destructive rhetoric that just isn’t representative of who we’re as a city. We at City Council will work along with the Portland Police Historical Society to make sure the memorial is restored. We recognize the hardworking public safety personnel who work to maintain our community secure daily and honor those that paid the final word sacrifice.”
The memorial, inbuilt 1994, is situated near the Hawthorne Bridge. There are 29 Portland police members on the wall starting from the primary killed in 1867 and essentially the most recent in 2002.
Schmautz said donations could be made to the Portland Police Historical Society for rebuilding efforts. He said the organization is chargeable for managing the memorial and museum, and just isn’t directly affiliated with the police bureau.