KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A statue of a fallen Kalamazoo Public Safety officer is being relocated.
KDPS Chief Karianne Thomas says they have decided to move the statue of Officer Eric Zapata from the Kalamazoo Mall to the Public Safety Headquarters building.
Thomas told WWMT that the statue has been vandalized in the past and they did not want it to be a target for future damage. She added that routine maintenance and cleaning is also needed.
35-year-old Zapata was fatally shot on April 18th, 2011 while responding to an officer-involved shooting in the 1400 block of Hayes Park Avenue. He was a 10-year veteran of the department.
In 2013, a stretch of I-94 was named in memory of Officer Zapata and a virtual wreath laying ceremony took place on the 9th anniversary of his death this year.
