March 29, 2024
State | Sauk Valley News


News

Road sign changed to read ‘Kill cops’

An electronic message board along Lake Shore Drive near Soldier Field was changed overnight to read, “Kill cops,” according to Chicago police.

The vandalism was reported about 6:20 a.m. Friday but police spokeswoman Karie James said it was not known how long it had been up. The sign had been altered manually by a keyboard, not hacked electronically, she said.

“Several inappropriate messages” may have been displayed, but the police were called after the “Kill cops” message appeared, according to police spokeswoman Sally Bown.

“It’s just awful,” Bown said. “It’s extremely harmful to our officers and it’s not funny.”

The sign is less than half a mile from the Gold Star Families Park and Memorial, a monument to fallen police officers. But authorities do not know if that is connected to the vandalism.

Crews from the Streets and Sanitation Department deactivated the sign after police were called, she said, and officials are investigating.