Several Monuments At Mount Hope Cemetery Vandalized: Police

BOSTON — Several memorial monuments, including one dedicated to fallen Boston Police officers, and war heroes at the historic Mount Hope Cemetery were vandalized this week and now the police are looking for who is responsible.

“I find it beyond reprehensible and wrong anyone would think it okay to damage and desecrate such hallowed grounds," said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross.

The Boston Police Relief Association Memorial was placed at the cemetery on the edge of Mattapan in honor and memory of officers who have passed away. Additional vandalized memorials include the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI & WWII monument altar, Knights of Columbus and Free Masons memorials. It looks like an oily substance was dumped on several. This comes just after it was discovered a granite WWII memorial was vandalized similarly at Castle Island.

The oil has made it difficult to clean up, officials said.

Police said detectives are in the early stages of the investigation.

“How incredibly distasteful and disheartening it is to learn about the damage done to the memorials at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Mattapan. Clearly, these memorials are meant to honor and show great respect to those, whether they be veterans or police officers, who spent a lifetime in dedicated service to our city and nation," said Gross in a statement. "Clearly, we hope to quickly identify and hold accountable the person responsible for these misguided and hateful actions.”

Mount Hope was established in 1852 as a private cemetery, and was acquired by the city five years later as the city's first cemetery to be laid out in the rural cemetery style, with winding lanes. It includes about 125 acres and it's part of the National Register of Historic Places.

The Boston Police Department is asking anyone with information about what happened to contact District B-3 Detectives at (617) 343-4712.

Related:

Police Investigating Vandalism To WWII Memorial At Castle Island