State Police Now Involved In Cape Cod American Flag Vandalism Investigation

YARMOUTH, MA — The Massachusetts State Police will help investigate who is behind tearing down American flags on a Cape Cod overpass, Gov. Maura Healey said.

This comes after American flags hung on a Cape Cod overpass to honor a local Purple Heart recipient were torn down for the second time in two months, police said.

Yarmouth police shared that American flags placed in honor of Purple Heart recipient Lance Corporal William Joseph Donovan Jr. have been torn down from the West Yarmouth Road memorial bridge that is named in his honor.

“Destroying the American flag is an insult to everyone who’s ever fought to defend it — and it will not be tolerated. Lance Cpl. William Joseph Donovan Jr. was a hero, and my heart goes out to his loved ones. I’ll always stand with our veterans and their families,” said Healey.

“At my direction, the Massachusetts State Police are working in close coordination with the Yarmouth Police Department to investigate this incident, including surveillance to prevent crimes like this in the future. We urge anyone with information about this act of vandalism to contact the Yarmouth Police Department or Massachusetts State Police,” Healey continued.

Last week, police were called to the bridge after reports that several flags had once again been destroyed. The flags were placed on Friday by Donovan’s father, replacing the flags that were vandalized in July, police said.

An officer arriving at the scene found eight American flags "forcefully ripped from the fencing. Their grommets had been torn out, and at least three flags were ripped apart at the seams," officials said.

Yarmouth Police are actively investigating and ask anyone with information to contact the Yarmouth Police Department.