A sign along Interstate 580 in Oakland honoring four police officers who were killed in the line of duty was taken down and defaced with a large red “X” on Friday. Oakland police are searching for those responsible for the vandalism, reports CBS San Francisco’s KPIX.
“This act of disrespect does not represent the majority of our community’s feeling about the Oakland Police Department,” the Oakland Police Departmnet said in a written statement. “We have received overwhelming support in recent weeks regarding our hard work, dedication and professionalism during these difficult times. The sign will be repaired and the officers’ sacrifices will never be forgotten.”
The sign, which had reportedly become a fixture along the Oakland freeway, memorialized Sgt. Mark Dunakin, Sgt. Ervin Romans, Sgt. Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege, who were killed in the line of duty on March 21, 2009 by a convicted felon on parole in the single deadliest day in Oakland Police Department history.
Protesters have staged demonstrations across the Bay Area in the wake of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, most notably in Berkeley, where thousands of demonstrators marched, engaged with police, and had been successful in shutting down major roadways.
Oakland police told CBS San Francisco they do not yet have any suspects.
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