A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for vandalizing a gazebo at Oxford Center School seven months ago.
Someone placed a toilet in the gazebo on the first day of school, with a reference to Republican Board of Education Chairwoman Rose McKinnon.
McKinnon spear-headed efforts to build the gazebo. The vandalism came shortly after months of political bickering in Oxford over the employment of school Superintendent Judith Palmer, who left the district in August.
Attorney George Temple, a member of the Republican Town Committee, said he is putting up $1,000 for an arrest and conviction in the case.
“Whether you agree with (McKinnon) or not, she’s trying to do the job, and I don’t go for bullies,” Temple said. “That’s an act of cowardice and a bully. I don’t think it’s the kind of thing that Oxford should put up with.”
Temple is seeking the Republican nomination for First Selectman.
A custodian discovered the gazebo incident on the first day of school.
The toilet was swept for fingerprints but no arrests have been made, Semosky said last week.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward. The number at the trooper’s office is 203 – 888-4353.
Whoever did it, it came off as more than a practical joke, according to Republican Dick Burke.
“I think the people who did this are despicable,” said Burke, who said McKinnon dedicated a lot of her personal time and expense for the gazebo project.
Burke thinks members of the Democratic Town Committee probably know who pulled the prank and that the police may have an idea as well, but don’t have enough evidence to make an arrest.
“I think it’s a dead issue,” Burke said. “I don’t think anything will come of it.”
Burke’s accusation about the Democratic Party is off the mark, said Carol Georgette, chairwoman of the Democratic Town Committee.
“What else would you think they would say?” she asked.
Georgette said if the person who pulled the prank is discovered and he or she is a member of her committee, the person would be removed from the group.
“As far as me, or my committee, I have no idea who could have done such a thing,” she said.
“It’s disgusting and awful and doesn’t speak well to this town,” Georgette said.
McKinnon has not commented on the crime.
