Man Claims Memorial To Fallen Tulsa Police Officer Was Vandalized

A man claims that a make-shift memorial honoring fallen Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson was destroyed on purpose.

Scott Hannaford has been taking care of the memorial and said he found the back the blue police flag cut apart and crumpled. Hannaford said he thinks someone cut the flag and threw the pole.

He said the rest of the memorial is untouched. 

Scott Hannaford said he was heartbroken when he heard someone shot Sgt. Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan during a traffic stop. Sgt. Johnson lost his life.

"There's no point in what happened, it served no reason," Hannaford said. 

Since that day in June, a small memorial has grown near 21st and Memorial where the crime happened. Hannaford has been quietly doing his part to keep it looking beautiful.

"I saw the grass had overtaken the small flags, so I decided to pull out the flags and weed eat,” Hannaford said. “And I did that all summer, almost every week."

A blue striped flag donated to the memorial was the center of attention, until Monday when Hannaford got a call that it was missing.

"None of the small flags were disturbed, nothing was out of place except for the blue line flag, which I found crumpled up like a piece of paper,” Hannaford said.

Hannaford found the flag and pole scattered more than 50 feet away.

Hannford said the flag looks like it was cut with a knife and he thinks it was deliberate since nothing else blew away.

"I was angry, I was angry, because this is a sacred location, this is hallowed ground,” Hannaford said. “A man lost his life protecting his city.”

Hannaford said he filed a police report Monday afternoon and hopes to find a replacement flag.

"As soon as possible, there's going to be another flag flying high above this site," Hannaford said.

Hannaford said he plans to keep taking care of the memorial. If you want to help or have any information, email Hannford at Scotthannaford91@gmail.com.