By Police1 Staff
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Police are searching for suspects who stole blue LED lights from a St. Joseph law enforcement memorial Monday, FOX 4 reported.
The memorial is a tribute to 17 officers who died in the line of duty in Buchanan County, according to the news site. The city honors the fallen heroes with blue lights in a ceremony to symbolize the thin blue line. Officers aren’t concerned about the $100 lights, but the significance of their meaning.
“The thin blue line is symbolism that they recognize,” Mike Hardin, FOP Lodge 3 president, told Fox 4. “The fact that they would desecrate this memorial, it’s unfortunate. For us this is hallowed ground. This is like a cemetery for us basically. It’s more than just theft.”
The incident was under investigation. Police asked anyone with information to call the tips hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.