Police are investigating the vandalism of a church statue dedicated to a South Jersey 9/11 responder.
The incident happened sometime between late Sunday night and early Monday morning at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Barnegat, New Jersey, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Monsignor Ken Tuzeneu, the Pastor at St. Mary’s, told the Press he noticed the damaged statue on Monday while walking around the church. He called Barnegat Township Police and filed a police report.
The two-foot tall bronze statue of St. Michael the Archangel was dedicated to Harold J. Smith, a former NYPD sergeant. The Press reports Smith retired from the force and moved with his family to Barnegat back in 2007 where they became parishioners at St. Mary’s.
Smith died from kidney cancer back on March 4 at the age of 47. Doctors claim Smith’s illness was due to toxic dust he ingested after responding to the World Trade Center attacks, according to the Asbury Park press.
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The church is currently trying to replace the statue. Police continue to investigate.
