June 17, 2008

'Hiker' is in storage, repair tab likely to be high

Experts who have seen photographs of the damaged “Hiker” statue vandalized on Memorial Boulevard last weekend have told city officials that fixing it will be costly.
One foundry said it will “take many hours” and a lot of work to repair the damage to the historic statue dedicated to the veterans of World War II, said Park Director Ed Swicklas.
Swicklas said that the bronze statue was removed from its base Tuesday and put into storage until the city decides where to send it for repairs. It was held on by only four bolts, he said, and wasn’t hard to take off.
While police continue to probe the vandalism discovered Saturday morning, state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said that catching metal thieves may be a lot easier because of new legislation he championed this year.
Colapietro, who represents the 31st District, called the mauling of the statue “disgusting” and expressed hope that police would soon catch the culprits.
The Park Board is likely to discuss the vandalism during its 6 p.m. meeting tonight at City Hall.
Swicklas has sent photographs of the statue to at least two foundries that could be asked to repair the damage. The tab is likely to be more than $15,000 – perhaps much more.
Though it isn’t clear whether the statue was damaged as a prank or if thieves had planned to steal it for scrap metal, Colapietro said a new law he pushed at the request of a Bristol detective should help police trying to keep up with criminals who are taking metals all over the state.
The senator said that thieves have snatched drain pipes off a Cheshire church, plaques off of graves and more.
"They're stealing anything that weighs anything," Colapietro said, even beer kegs, which are worth about $50 after they've been chopped up for the metal.
To combat the problem, the law that Colapietro championed requires scrap dealers to take pictures of the license plates of anyone bringing in metal to sell and to record what they brought.
The legislation requires scrap metal processors to record certain information for all loads of scrap metal purchased or received, including a description, the weight, the price paid for the load and the identification of the person who delivered the load.
It requires scrap metal processors, junk dealers or junkyard owners to immediately notify their municipal law enforcement of the name, if known, and motor vehicle license plate, if available, of any person offering to sell a bronze statue, plaque, historical marker, cannon, cannon ball, bell, lamp, lighting fixture, lamp post, architectural artifact or similar item.
"That makes it a lot easier to catch" those swiping the material, the senator said.
It should also slow the number of thefts, he said.
"If you can't sell it, there's no sense stealing it," Colapietro said.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is the statue getting an IV? Is he stable or critical? What's the prognosis? CAN'T WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON HIS CONDITION DAMN IT!!

IS HE GOING TO MAKE IT !?!?!?!

Anonymous said...

Looks like he stepped on an IUD or IED

Anonymous said...

Whatever the final cost, it should be taken out of the Police Department budget. What are the patrol officers doing on the third shift, sleeping? If the current third-shift officers on the Bristol Police Department can't "get the job done" then they should be relieved of their duty and replaced with others who are willing and able. This is just one more example of ineffective policing in the city of Bristol! We need new leaders desperately, not only in the political arena, but also in the Police Department! Our tax dollars are being wasted!

Anonymous said...

LOL, yes I agree.

Pay for it with their f___ing OT!

Anonymous said...

If Johnson would return the $10,000 he hasn't earned, that would pay for half the repairs.

Anonymous said...

June 18, 2008 1:47 PM:

As soon as Couture pays back the two years in salary we paid him for nothing.

Anonymous said...

at least couture showed up which is more than johnson did; almost forgot johnson did show up twice - once to pick up his $10,000 check for doing nothing and the other time he showed up only to storm out of the meeting, slamming the door in a hissy-fit, when things didn't go his way.
Seems that we would have been better off if johnson never showed up.

Anonymous said...

June 18, 2008 3:51 PM:

Sounds like a typical union employee.

Anonymous said...

Boy I guess all you have to do is spend your time on this blog just to bash Unions. Whatsa matter can't think of anything worth while ?

Anonymous said...

Nope, sounds more like a typical citizen who's getting pretty fed up with the bull crap that Johnson's trying to stuff down his craw.

Anonymous said...

Interesting article in todays New York Times, page B1,
Titled "Bronze Eagles owe survival to Drug Dealer"

Seems like someone stole the
Eagles, which were in commemoration of City employees who served in the militray, but with the help of the drug dealer, they were recovered.

Maybe Steve can pull it up for everyone to read.

Guess we aren't the only ones affected.


William T. Stortz

Anonymous said...

June 18, 2008 5:12 PM:

It's so funny how it bothers you, you union bum.

Anonymous said...

Without the Union bums as you call them you couldn't survive. And I guess you think that namecalling hurts but it doesn't . So go ahead and be your typical self and call names all you want . It might make you feel good although I don't know if that's possible.

Anonymous said...

5:26 I know you think you are the typical citizen but I assure you you're NOT. They are a lot more grown up as you geeks are.

Anonymous said...

5:12 pm It seems to me like you are the bothered one. I just consider the source!

Anonymous said...

"They are a lot more grown up as you geeks are."

Once again, the intelligence of the anti-union crowd comes into question.