State lawmakers on Thursday unanimously approved a proposed law that would enhance penalties against people who vandalize war memorials.
The bill, ​“An Act Concerning Desecration of War or Veterans’ Memorials,” passed through the state Senate April 26 and now awaits Gov. Dannel Malloy’s signature.
“We’ll review the legislation once it gets to the Governor’s desk,” Andrew Doba, a Malloy spokesman, said via e‑mail Friday. ​“It typically takes a few days for that to happen once a bill passes the General Assembly.”
It would enhance penalties for people found guilty of intentionally defacing, mutilating or destroying a memorial or monument.
Under the law, such an act would be a class D felony,. It would also be a class D felony to knowingly possess, purchase, or sell a stolen war or veterans’ memorial.
The lower Valley suffered a rash of such thefts in late November and December 2011.
Thieves stole large memorial plaques off a memorial in Witek Park in Derby honoring Derby war hero Frank P. Witek.
Thieves also hit a memorial honoring veterans on Ansonia’s Woodbridge Avenue. That memorial contained the name of Mayor James Della Volpe’s father and uncles.
In Shelton, a memorial honoring Commodore Isaac Hull, a commander during the War of 1812, was also stolen.
Work is underway to replace the stolen memorials.
Valley lawmakers spoke in favor of the bill’s passage on the House floor Thursday night.
“This bill makes the desecration of our local veterans’ memorials a much stronger crime in recognition of the fact that these crimes are against the community as a whole,” said state Rep. Len Greene, who represents Ansonia, Beacon Falls, and Seymour.
“Sadly, the theft of property has become a common occurrence in our society during these current economic times. This law protects the memorials of veterans and provides reverence to their families,” said Rep. Jason Perillo, of Shelton.
Greene also discussed how the bill attempts to disincentivize the purchasing and selling of the stolen metal increasing the penalties against the seller and scrap metal buyer.
Rep. Linda Gentile, who represents Ansonia and Derby, also lauded the bill’s passage.
“This bill is so personal for me since last year; monuments in both of the cities of Ansonia and Derby were vandalized,” she said. ​“As far as I am concerned, these monuments and memorials are sacred grounds honoring our true local heroes, our veterans. In memory and honor of our veterans, we must do what we can to keep thieves and vandals from desecrating those important monuments.”
Ansonia’s Patrick Henri, a U.S. Navy reservist from Ansonia who was serving in Afghanistan when the local plaques were stolen, said he appreciates the steps taken by state lawmakers, but would like to see such vandalism elevated to the level of being a federal crime, or, short of that, even tougher penalties under state law.
“It’s definitely a good thing,” Henri said of the proposed changes. ​“I appreciate the sentiment behind it. But I always think there could be more teeth to it.”
“I do appreciate the state giving this the attention,” Henri added. ​“They are sending a good message. It’s more than a crime, it’s a desecration.”
There have been no arrests in connection with the Valley memorial thefts.