Nov 8, 2024 Story by: Editor
DETROIT — Detroit police have recovered a 600-pound bronze statue of Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, a celebrated Tuskegee airman after it was stolen from Rouge Park on the city’s far west side, officials announced Friday.
The statue, commemorating Jefferson’s legacy, was reported missing Wednesday evening. Authorities believe it was removed sometime late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, having been sawed off at the ankles. Mayor Mike Duggan stated that officers determined the timeframe of the theft after canvassing the area, with nearby business surveillance footage capturing a large rental truck leaving the vicinity around that time.
By tracking the truck’s GPS, police discovered that it had been rented by a person previously linked to other robberies. “[Officers] found out the person who rented it was suspected of other robberies,” Duggan said. “They ran him down in real-time, caught him. He turned over the statue, confessed and we made two arrests.”
Further details about the suspects were not immediately available.
Lt. Col. Jefferson, one of the famed Red Tails, served during World War II, escorting bombers over Europe. He was shot down and held as a prisoner of war, returning to Detroit after his release. In addition to his military achievements, Jefferson dedicated his post-war life to education, working as a teacher and vice principal, and co-founding Detroit’s chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.
The Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-Black air fighter squadron, trained and served separately from white units due to segregation in the U.S. military. While the base was in Tuskegee, Alabama, the state of Michigan was an advanced training site for these skilled pilots during the war.
The statue, unveiled in June, is part of a newly built plaza in Rouge Park. Lt. Col. Jefferson’s connection to the park is deep-rooted, as he flew model airplanes there, and the field where the statue stands had already been named in his honor. Detroit commemorated his 100th birthday in 2021, and Jefferson passed away in 2022.
“Lt. Col. Jefferson was a hero in every sense of the word and so richly deserves this honor,” Duggan remarked at the statue’s unveiling. “He distinguished himself as a Tuskegee Airman and prisoner of war in World War II, and again at home as a celebrated educator. The people of Detroit are deeply grateful to him for his service, and this plaza and statue are a reflection of our collective appreciation.” Source: Army Times
