Police Look For Flag Stolen From Chickasha Public Library

Ed Murray, News 9

CHICKASHA, Oklahoma -- Chickasha police are investigating a rather unusual theft. Someone swiped the flag outside the city's public library.

This isn't the first time the library's U.S. flag has disappeared. The old rope has snapped in the past, and the flag has simply drifted away. But this time, the flagpole has been violated.

"It definitely appears that the flag was stolen," says Major Elip Moore, Assistant Chief of Police. "The actual lanyard that holds the flags up was cut."

The Oklahoma flag that shared this pole was recovered. But it has been nine days now, and still nothing on the stars and stripes.

"We've pretty much exhausted all leads so at this point we're going to hope that someone who knows something will be calling us," Moore says.

Like any town in our state, Chickasha is very proud of old glory. As a matter of fact, four U.S. flags can be seen standing right in front of the Grady County courthouse.

Major Moore was in the military before he was the assistant chief. Military police take care of our flag. And as a resident of Chickasha, he's not too happy that someone has stolen a flag in his town.

"The flag, in my opinion, is something to be revered. It's symbolic and representative of our country and who we are as a nation. And for someone to come and steal that... it kind of, kind of gets me right in the gut and gives me an uneasy feeling." Moore says.

The Fraternal Order of Police may replace the flag, unless of course, the thief returns it. They can just use the library's overnight drop box.

The recovered Oklahoma flag was in pretty bad shape. The library will give it to the city's Girl Scout troop to make sure it is properly retired.