NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro Nashville Police are investigating graffiti on Charlotte Avenue that targeted police officers.
During the overnight hours of Wednesday someone painted the message "Save A Life, Kill A Cop" on the side of a storage trailer at the corner of Charlotte Avenue and 33rd Avenue.
People started to notice the vandalism just after 7:30 Wednesday morning.
"It just sunk my stomach. There's not need in any of that," said Rachel Tidwell, who works across the street from the vandalized trailer.
The crew at her garage first noticed the graffiti, and pointed it out to her.
"My guys pulled in the back lot and came in and said, can you believe that. I said what are you talking about. We walked out here and saw what had happened. It was definitely a shock to the system, first thing in the morning,' Tidwell explained.
Customers at the Calypso Cafe, located next to the vacant lot where the trailer is located, took photos of the message as they walked into the restaurant. Many of them could not believe what they had seen.
"I think it's a disturbing message. Law enforcement works really hard, it's never perfect, there are a lot of issues that communities have to deal with, probably Nashville has to deal with, but all in all I think Nashville cops are really fantastic," customer David Taylor said.
Metro Police took the threatening vandalism very seriously. The department sent several officers, and a crime scene technician, to the area to search for clues.
By noon the owner of the property had a paint crew ready to cover up the message. It took less than ten minutes to paint over the message that stirred up so much emotion for several hours.
Metro Police issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon about the message that targeted officers.
"We are shocked and saddened that someone would create such a sign.
We are gratified to know that the, what we think is the, overwhelming majority of Nashvillans, who are also shocked and saddened," spokesman Don Aaron wrote in the statement.
The Nashville Fraternal of Police president said the threat contained in the graffiti is a part of the job officers take very seriously, but it will not deter them.
"These officers are still going to go out here everyday, they're still going to do their professional job like they've always done, Danny Hale said.
The FOP President also said officers will use the words painted on the trailer as a reminder.
"Just keep your eyes open, watch out for what you do, watch out for one another, because it's pretty serious out here. But this this doesn't reflect Nashville," Hale explained.
So far, Metro Police do not have any leads as to who may be responsible for the graffiti. If you have any information call Metro Crime Stoppers at 615-74-CRIME (615-742-7463).
