Authorities are investigating after the law enforcement memorial at the Wisconsin State Capitol was vandalized over the weekend.
Graffiti was found sprawled on the memorial honoring fallen officers on the Capitol Square at the corner of Pinckney and Mifflin Streets in Madison, according to WKOW-TV.
The graffiti -- spray painted in red -- shows "Justice4AnthonySmith," an apparent reference to the St. Louis man who was shot in 2011. The former police officer who was accused of fatally shooting him was acquitted in the case on Friday.
Wisconsin Department of Administration Communications Director Steve Michels said officials believe the incident that occurred overnight Friday and is currently under investigation. The capitol facilities department will clean the memorial as soon as possible. Anyone with information about the vandalism to call the Capitol Police at 608-266-8797.
The memorial was erected and is maintained by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial, Inc. It's chairman, Green Bay Police Officer Craig Kolbeck told the news station that the vandalism is extremely offensive.
"I'm really upset by this. It doesn't only affect myself or the board. There are currently 273 names of men and women that were killed in the line of duty and gate their lives and are on that memorial," he said.
The Wisconsin Professional Police Association posted the following that statement on social media after leaning of the vandalism.:
This a disgraceful and unconscionable desecration to the officers of every race, creed and color recognized on this memorial for paying the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. To senselessly deface this lasting tribute to the price paid by the brave men and women memorialized - and that of the selfless families that supported those officers - is not only a slap in the face to all those in law enforcement, both past and present, but to the freedoms that their courage preserves each and every day as well. Wisconsin's law enforcement community has been recognized as a national leader when it comes to 21st century policing, and we know that this horrendous act of vandalism doesn't speak for the vast majority of the public that holds in high regard the risks our officers assume in the course of their duty to others. In the days to come, may the expressions of those that understand and respect the vital role our officers play in society reverberate and serve to drown out the cowardly few who use graffiti under the cover of darkness to display their ignorant disrespect and their fundamental misunderstanding of the paramount importance of the valor and honor of the courageous officers working to keep our streets safe.
