KINGSTON – Two Kingston City Police officers are credited with solving the case of desecrated tombstones at Wiltwyck Rural Cemetery.
Superintendent Matthew Simi said Detective Shuman and Officer VanValkenburg solved the case.
A week ago Saturday someone toppled two monuments and severely damaged three others. The damaged monuments date to the early 1800s, said Simi.
“It was a community effort to solve this time,” he said. A cemetery visitor notified him of the damage and he was able to retrieve security camera photos to give to the police.
Simi said with the aid of a Broadway business, they were able to identify items left at the scene that had been purchased a short time before.
At mid-week police said they made an arrest.
The damaged and toppled and damaged stones have been repaired by staff.
“We are here to serve those entrusted to our care, their families, and our community,” said Simi. “We have zero tolerance for vandalism, theft of personal items from graves, drug use, open containers, or any other crime committed within our property. We remain open and welcoming to our community to visit, walk, bicycle, and respectfully remember.”
