MERRIMAC — Police Chief Eric Shears reports that the Merrimac Police Department has documented occurrences of graffiti spray-painted on a wall outside the Helen R. Donaghue School and on a wall outside the Merrimac Highway Department building.
The letters “ACAB” were discovered spray-painted on the Highway Department building early Sunday morning. Later in the morning, the words “Black Lives Matter” and “ACAB” were discovered spray-painted in large letters on a concrete wall outside the school building. “ACAB” is known to stand for “All Cops are Bastards.”
The department has documented the occurrence, and the spray-paint will be professionally removed by a crew attached to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office later Sunday. Chief Shears notified the Merrimac Board of Selectmen and Pentucket Regional School District Superintendent Justin Bartholomew about the incidents.
Chief Shears urges members of the community not to spray-paint public buildings, regardless of the messaging or intentions.
“As a community leader, I am mindful of the very necessary and vital conversation taking place around our nation after the senseless and tragic death of George Floyd in Minnesota,” Chief Shears said. “I denounce the actions of the officers in Minneapolis that resulted in this man’s death. The men and women of the Merrimac Police Department report to work every day understanding that we can only do our jobs effectively if we have the support and partnership of our community members.”
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