A statue of baseball icon Jackie Robinson was stolen last week by thieves who cut the bronze sculpture off at the ankles and took off with it, leaving many outraged across Wichita.
The statue, which was displayed at McAdams Park in Wichita, was stolen by two thieves who were caught on surveillance camera, police shared in a Facebook post on Thursday morning.
In the post, police shared the two thieves could be seen hauling the sculpture away in the dark after sawing through it, leaving only Robinson’s feet.
Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan held a news conference Friday about the missing statue, sharing the outrage that many in the community, where Robinson once played, felt about the theft.
“I’m frustrated by the actions of those individuals who had the audacity to take the statue of Jackie Robinson from a park where kids and families in our community gather to learn the history of Jackie Robinson, an American icon, and play the game of baseball,” Sullivan said during the news conference. “This should upset all of us.”
Robinson was once a member of the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in the Negro Leagues, before he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, a moment that would change the sports world forever.
Sullivan shared that the theft is increasingly more upsetting as it happened a week before the start of Black History Month.
Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson said that the theft was “disgusting” and that residents are demanding justice.
“Many people want to find those folks before law enforcement,” Johnson said. “So again, like the chief and the (district attorney) said, if you’ve got that statue, bring it here today. Now.”
A reward was issued on Friday from the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, as anyone who provides tips leading to arrests could earn $2,500, and those providing information leading to the statues recovery could earn $5,000.
Sullivan has asked salvage yards to contact police if the statue is brought in for money instead of breaking it down for its materials.
“Once the statue is returned, we also want the individuals who robbed our community of a treasure to be held accountable for their actions,” Sullivan said. “And I assure you, they will. The resources of the Wichita Police Department have been mobilized.”