NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The NYPD has launched an investigation into the vandalism of a statue memorializing a Polish priest who was murdered in 1984 due to his work in Poland's Solidarity movement.
The department's Hate Crimes Unit on Wednesday tweeted a photo of the statue of Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko covered in trash.
Paper bags, plastic bottles and other debris littered the base of the monument while a large black plastic bag covered the statue's head.
The statue is located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, which has a large Polish population. It's unclear when the vandalism occurred.
"We are very aware of the significance to the @NYPD94Pct Polish community," the NYPD tweeted. "If you have any info, Telephone 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)."
Popiełuszko was just 37 years old when he was beaten to death in October 1984 for speaking out against the Communist regime in Poland and participating in the Solidarity movement.
Three Communist secret police officers were jailed for his murder.
He has been recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church and was beatified in June 2010.
The Brooklyn statue was previously the target of vandals back in 1990, according to article in the New York Times archive.
