Fallen law enforcement memorial vandalized in Colorado Springs

A memorial for fallen law enforcement was vandalized with graffiti over the weekend. The vandalization comes after a very difficult year for our law enforcement community.

It was at the Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers Memorial at Memorial Park. The vandals spray painting swastikas on the memorial where the names of our police officers and sheriff’s deputies who gave the ultimate sacrifice, including El Paso County Sheriff’s deputy Micah Flick are engraved. The lights that illuminate the names at night, shattered.

The suspects weren’t just targeting that memorial. Another swastika spray painted on the district attorney’s seal and across from the memorial, a white ‘X’ only spray painted on the Colorado Springs Police Departments bronze badge.

Slava Ribalnik, who is stationed at Fort Carson was spending time with his family when he saw the vandalized memorial himself, “Just knowing in the community you have people who want to vandalize something so precious that was done for service members and police officers. I think it’s pretty bad.” He didn’t expect it to happen in Colorado Springs, a town known for its support of law enforcement. “You see it nationally in other places,” says Ribalnik, “but I wouldn’t expect to see this around this area.”

The vandals could be caught soon. Security cameras are set up right next to the memorial. Officials say they are aware of the situation and hope to have the graffiti cleaned up by Wednesday.