Plaques honoring Philadelphia Police officers defaced

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Plaques honoring Philadelphia Police officers were defaced early Saturday morning.

Officer Gary Skerski was killed in the line of duty on May 6, 2006 while answering a call for an armed robbery at Pat's Cafe. A plaque outside the bar honors the 46-year-old father of two.

The bar owner, Patty Hipple says she was sickened by the act, but was pleased her security cameras caught these images of those believed to have done it.

In South Philly, two more plaques were hit on Friday. Police say they're trying to determine if there is a connection.

Along the busy intersection of Broad and Snyder, Officer Charles Knox is remembered. He was shot execution-style while struggling with a robber at a fast food restaurant. Bright paint scarred his marker.

Officer George Jacobs' plaque was also defaced. Jacobs died after just 3 months on the job back in 1966. He was only 29 years old, killed during a traffic stop.

The plaques are all clean now, but for some, an emotional stain lingers.

"I think the real issue is real policy change, real life solutions. I don't understand what defacing someone's plaque is really going to do" says Tommy Delgado of South Philly.