It is, admittedly, not much to go on. But for a group that never gives up in the face of overwhelming odds, it's worth looking at over and over again.
Authorities have released some grainy black and white security video of a man seen skulking around the Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial at Queen's Park on May 12th. But the man in the pictures wasn't there to pay tribute to the honoured heroes. Instead, his goal was exactly the opposite.
He's the person who deliberately
defaced the shrine to those who lost their lives helping others, writing idiotic slogans like "Dalton Gang" and "Guns Bad" on the granite bearing the names.
Now that video has been released - along with another incentive to catch him. It's an $11,000 reward being offered by a number of fire fighting associations, including those based in Ontario and Manitoba.
The people behind the reward admit the vicious vandal was all too successful in his act - they have yet to fully clean up what he left behind. "Currently we're not able to have all of the graffiti removed from the walls," sighs Brian George of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association. "We had a company from Toronto, 'Goodbye Graffiti,' graciously offer their services and repeated attempts to try and clean the walls. Unfortunately they were unsuccessful in removing all of it."
That just makes everyone even more determined to see justice done. "We would like to see the individual who perpetrated this cowardly and depraved act arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law," proclaims International Association of Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger.
"Someone out there knows who did this," echoes Fred LeBlanc of the Ontario group. "We urge you to think of the families of our fallen fire fighters, and the sacrifice they made on behalf of the public, and help bring this person to justice."
There's only a limited description of the wanted man. He's:
- Fair skinned,
- Thin build,
- Short dark hair,
- 160-170 lbs.
He was wearing a dark jacket and carrying a backpack.
If you think you know who's responsible for the outrage and can collect the bounty, call
(416) 327-2367.