AP
August 24, 2020 | 12:54 PM
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A park named in honor of two police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty has been vandalized with anti-police graffiti.
Retired Springfield police Sgt. John Delaney told Masslive.com that he cried Sunday when he saw that someone spray painted anti-police acronyms on the memorial at Beauregard & Schiavina Memorial Park in Springfield.
“This was a serene place and this had to be done by a horrible character who hates police,” Delaney said.
Officers Michael Schiavina and Alain Beauregard were shot by an 18-year-old man during a routine traffic stop in 1985. Schiavina, 28, died shortly after surgery, and Beauregard, 29, died several days later. Their assailant killed himself several days later.
Beauregard’s widow, Doris Beauregard-Shecrallah, said she was devastated when Delaney told her about the graffiti.
“I’m still crying about it,” she said. “We have to find a way to solve this anger, this madness. What are we doing to our world? What are we teaching our kids?”
The graffiti comes at a time of heightened tension and protest following the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.
Police are investigating the graffiti.
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