Unknown vandals have defaced the memorials of two West Yorkshire police officers who were killed in the line of duty. The first of the two memorials, a stone dedicated to PC Ian Broadhurst, who was shot dead in 2003, was defaced on Saturday with black paint. A second memorial dedicated to Sgt John Speed, who was murdered in 1984, was targeted on Sunday. It is believed that both incidents may have been linked.
Leeds District Commander, Ch Supt Steve Dodds, has condemned the actions as “absolutely disgusting.” He said, “It is absolutely disgusting that someone would deliberately deface the memorials honouring the memories of PC Ian Broadhurst and Sgt John Speed, who were murdered in the line of duty.”
West Yorkshire Police reported that they became aware of the damage to PC Broadhurst’s memorial late on Saturday and believed it had been targeted between 6.10 pm and 6.20 pm. Wreaths and flowers that had been laid at the site were also disrupted in the vandalism. The second memorial was damaged overnight. Both memorials had previously been targeted by vandals in 2010, 2012, and 2018.
Following the latest incident, Ch Supt Dodds reported that the memorial to PC Broadhurst had been cleaned up and the memorial to Sgt Speed would also be restored. He added that it was expected there would be no lasting damage to either.
PC Ian Broadhurst was killed on Boxing Day 2003 by former US marine David Bieber in the Fearnville district of Leeds. Bieber was sentenced to a minimum of 37 years for his murder. Sgt John Speed was shot dead near the former Leeds Parish Church on Kirkgate in 1984 after going to the aid of a colleague who was checking on two men acting suspiciously
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