Damaged garden at Conway Elementary School in Escondido. Courtesy photo
ESCONDIDO–A group of Escondido police officers stepped up to help an elementary school after vandals damaged the students’ small garden over the weekend.
Conway Elementary School staff Sunday morning called Escondido police department after they discovered the vandalized garden.
The officer saw that someone had smashed potted plants with children’s painted hand prints on them, broke branches off some of the trees, and even threw a shopping cart into the garden. School staff worried about how upset the children would be if they saw the vandalism to their garden.
The officers took action and used their own money to purchase a $50 gift card at Home Depot. The gift card was delivered to the school a short time later in hopes that it would help the school make some needed repairs before the children returned on Monday.
“It angers me that someone would vandalize a garden for young children. I am proud of my officer’s selfless gesture to right this wrong,” Escondido Police Chief Craig Carter said. “I encourage anyone in the community who knows who committed this crime to contact the Escondido Police Department.”
A resident who heard about the incident at the school donated a $200 Home Depot gift card, which was delivered to staff at the school. Along with the gift card was a letter that read in part,
“It made me sad to think that any one, or any group, could be so heartless and cold. I am very proud of your officers for outstanding kindness. I have included a gift card from Home Depot for $200.00.”
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call the Anonymous Tip Line at 760-743-TIPS (8477), or visit http://police.escondido.org.
