COLUMBIA CITY, Ind — Police in a northern Indiana are searching for thief who stole from one of their own.
A retired police chief badge was recently taken off the headstone of Gordon Anspach, a former police chief in Columbia City.
“They pried the epoxy off and popped the badge off,” Chief Gary Parrett told WPTA.
Anspach died in 2011 at the age of 75. He served on the Columbia City Police Department for 20 years, including eight as chief. The badge was placed on his headstone at Greenhill Cemetery to honor him.
His son, Brian, has been on the department for 31 years.
"It's a family legacy," Parrett said.
When Brian Anspach learned the badge had been stolen from his father's grave, Parrett said everyone in the department wanted to help. Officers donated to a reward fund that grew to $500 to find the person responsible for the theft.
“We have a tight knit department, and those guys are willing to step up and put in their own money,” Parrett said.
The reward doubled with a match from an anonymous donor.
Parrett said a new badge has been ordered, in case the original is not returned, but they urge whoever stole the badge to return it.
Anyone with helpful information is asked to contact Columbia City Police Det/Sgt. David Calhoun at 260-248-5128.