A tribute to a cyclist who died in an accident has been stolen in a crime the Palm Springs Police Department calls a "callous act" and "complete disregard" for the victim's memory.
Reaching out to the community on Facebook for help in restoring the memorial to its rightful place, the police department is encouraging clues from residents through its nonemergency line. The theft of the tribute bike originally displayed at the intersection of Compadre and Ramon Roads happened on Thursday, April 13.
"We express our deep frustration and disappointment regarding the theft of a bicycle donated by the Palm Springs Police Department to Volunteer Palm Springs," the department said on Facebook. "Over the past several years, we have collaborated with this organization to promote traffic safety, specifically focusing on pedestrians and cyclists. The stolen bicycle was dedicated to the PS Cares outreach program, which is a community-based education and public safety initiative designed to create a safer environment through the Blink for Safety and Ghost Bikes campaigns."
Citizens will recognize the stolen bicycle as having been dipped in white paint and stripped of all working parts. It had featured a sign saying a cyclist had been killed at that location.
The nature of this crime inspired additional comments from the department on the sentiment the theft of a memorial has inspired.
"The fact that this bike was stolen is a blatant disregard for the memory of the individual it was intended to honor and the community that came together to make this tribute possible," the Facebook notice said.
The cyclist lost their life in an accident involving a motor vehicle.
Citizens with information that could help return the tribute bike to its home are urged to share it with the Palm Springs Police Department through the nonemergency dispatch line at 760-327-1441. Besides information on the bike, the department is seeking help in identifying the thief responsible.