Pride Flag Stolen From Darien Beach: Police

DARIEN, CT — Police said a Pride Flag was reported missing from the flagpole at Pear Tree Point Beach in Darien last week and replaced with a small American flag not owned by the town.

In a statement Wednesday, Police Sgt. James Palmieri said a parks and recreation employee reported the flag was discovered missing on June 2 around 3 p.m. The flag had been flown on the flagpole at approximately 1 p.m. the day prior, Palmieri said.

According to Palmieri, a small American flag that was not owned by the town was found in place of the Pride Flag on the pole.

Officers later spoke to a beach employee who recalled seeing an "elderly white male" taking down a flag and replacing it with an American flag on either June 1 or 2, Palmieri said.

"When the beach employee questioned the male," Palmieri said in a statement,"[the man] reportedly stated he was a 'town employee' whose job it was 'to change the flags'. At the time of the release, it does not appear probable that this individual was a town employee nor responsible for changing the flags at the beach."

The man was described as having a slim build, approximately 5 foot, 8 inches tall, in his late 50's to early 60's with "salt and pepper" hair. No vehicle was observed, Palmieri said.

On Wednesday, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said in a statement the flag's theft was sad and discouraging.

"The town of Darien is an inclusive, welcoming and loving community," Stevenson said in a statement. "Many have voluntarily raised the Pride Flag during June awareness month to evidence support for the value we place on social equality and respect for individual choice. It is sad and discouraging to learn that a Pride Flag was stolen from one of our beach flagpoles, as I know our community to be caring and inclusive. These types of acts should not and will not be tolerated in our community."

Police ask anyone with information to contact the department's detective bureau at 203-662-5330. All calls will be kept confidential, however an anonymous tip can also be submitted via the department's website under the "services" menu.

Patch has reached out to the Parks and Recreation department for further