Investigations underway after Police Wall of Remembrance defaced

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Investigations are underway after a memorial in Sydney’s Domain, dedicated to members of police who have died, was defaced over this weekend. NSW premier Chris Minns said the vandalism was ‘disgusting behaviour’ and the act was ‘lower than low’.

Transcript

00:00It was first discovered just after three o'clock in the morning, this graffiti and vandalism

00:08right here.

00:09As you can see, the words evil etched into the stonework of the Police Wall of Remembrance

00:15as well as what appears to be devil's horns or ears atop the New South Wales Police emblem.

00:21But that's not where the vandalism ends.

00:24All along this Wall of Remembrance, you can see, above the names of those who died while

00:29serving in the New South Wales Police and indeed the public, the word dogs or dogs

00:34scraped in.

00:35It's above every single column and it's drawn significant critique from the Premier of New

00:41South Wales.

00:42He's released a statement this morning that we're going to share with you now.

00:46I've been made aware that the police monument in the domain has been significantly vandalised.

00:51This is disgusting behaviour.

00:53Police put themselves in danger every day in the service of our state.

00:57To deface a memorial that commemorates police officers who have served the state and those

01:02who have lost their lives whilst on duty is lower than low.

01:06Part of the reason government ministers, including the Premier, who you've just heard from, as

01:10well as the police minister, Yasmin Katli, have taken issue with this vandalism is of

01:15who the victims are.

01:17Those who have died while serving the public as well as their families.

01:20It includes those like Sergeant Peter Stone, who died while trying to save his son from

01:26harsh sea conditions.

01:28Kelly Foster, too, dying while trying to save an international student on a kayaking trip,

01:34as well as Aaron Vidal.

01:36Aaron was hit by a car that ran a red light, with a man later charged and pleading guilty

01:41over those offences that led to his death.

01:45All of which brings back this fear and anger from the government that someone could do

01:50such a thing where people come to mourn and pay their respects to those who have paid

01:55the ultimate sacrifice.

01:57Now it'll be a matter of City of Sydney Council working alongside police to figure out how

02:03they can repair the stoneworks here.

02:05It may involve consulting stonemasons as instead of graffiti or spray paint, which is usually

02:10washed off, this has been chipped away and etched into the memorial, which could mean

02:15it's a complicated task.

02:17There's also a matter of the investigation to find those who are responsible.

02:22The government and police calling for anyone with video footage to come forward for what

02:26they believe could be an opportunistic attack that occurred on Saturday morning was not

02:31discovered until Sunday afternoon and has now been reported to the public on Monday.

02:36Crime stoppers are also taking calls for anyone with information.

02:40The government and police vowing to catch those responsible.

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