Less than a week since its installment a symbolic string of lights has been stolen from a Peace Officer Memorial at Civic Center Park in downtown St. Joseph.

“They had to take a knife and cut, there’s more than a dozen zip ties,” said Mike Hardin President of the Northwest Missouri Fraternal Order of Police. “I don’t have any belief that they just wanted lights. I think they understood the symbolism of what the Blue Line means and what it meant there at that memorial.  I think they wanted to steal that symbolism more than just the lights themselves.”

He said the idea of the “Thin Blue Line” reflects the idea of a line between good and evil.

“As officers we really consider ourselves on the good side obviously and the people out there doing evil things are obviously on the opposite side,” Hardin said.

He said the lights were displayed for the first time Wednesday, during the annual candlelight service to honor the 17 individuals who have lost their lives in the line of duty in the Buchanan County area.  He said the lights had to be stolen sometime between Friday and Sunday. Hardin said he noticed the lights missing Sunday night around 9:30.

“It’s not about the little more than $100 dollars that we spent on the light, it’s more about the idea that someone took down the lights at a memorial that’s there to honor heroes,” Hardin said. “It’s hurtful to not only the officers but the families whose members are honored there.”

An official police report was filed Monday.  There is a live video stream from City Hall that shows the memorial.  However, at this time Hardin said he’s not sure if that footage is recorded.  Anyone with information can call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.