Statue of baseball icon Jackie Robinson stolen from Kansas park
Police in Kansas reported that a statue depicting the iconic American baseball figure Jackie Robinson was stolen from a park.
The bronze statue, situated in a park in Wichita, was severed at the ankles and removed using a truck.
Expressing dismay, Wichita Police stated the theft, which occurred overnight on Thursday.
Authorities have announced a monetary reward for any information leading to the recovery of the statue.
During a press briefing on Friday, Wichita’s police chief, Joe Sullivan, expressed frustration over the individuals who “dared” to take the statue from a park frequented by children and families.
Mr. Sullivan emphasized the significance of the theft, stating, “This should upset all of us.”
The stolen statue was located in McAdams Park, the home of League 42, a youth baseball league named in honor of Robinson’s jersey number.
Moreover, the park is renowned for its recognition of influential African Americans, named after a former black city official, and its community center was recently renamed after the city’s inaugural elected black mayor.
Robinson, renowned for his tenure with the Brooklyn Dodgers, made history as Major League Baseball’s first black player, paving the way for subsequent generations of African American ballplayers.
“No matter the motivation of those who were involved, they were not only stealing from the community, they’re also stealing from the legacy of work that has been put in by the members of League 42,” said Brandon Johnson, a member of the Wichita city council.
“More importantly, they’re stealing from the kids.”
Officials are offering $2,500 (£1,970) for any tip that leads to an arrest, and an additional $5,000 to anyone with information on where the statue might be.
The value of the stolen statue is more than $75,000, city officials said, but they added the value of what was lost is much bigger.
“The value is much more than that. It’s Jackie Robinson. And I’ll just leave it at that,” said Troy Houtman, Wichita’s parks and recreation director.
