Glass Panel on Westfield's 9/11 Memorial Shattered by Vandals

The Westfield Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism that has destroyed one of the glass panels on Westfield's 9/11 memorial.

The etched pane on the west side of the monument was smashed by an unknown suspect or suspects with an unknown object, according to police. The act is believed to have occurred earlier this week. 

Memorial Park, located at North Avenue and East Broad Street, was dedicated on Sept. 21, 2002 and honors all the victims who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.The obelisk displays the names of all the victims while the 12 granite pillars that surround it are dedicated to each of the 12 Westfielders who perished in the terrorist attacks: Andrew J. Alameno, David Otey Campbell, Michael A. Davidson, Dean P. Eberling, Stephen Mark Fogel, Thomas Glasser, Leo Russell Keene III, Richard B. Madden, John "Pepe" Salerno, See-Wong Shum, Anthony Starita, and Jim Walsh. 

The 9/11 memorial is the site of the annual commemoration service where hundreds of Westfielders gather to honor the lives lost and pay tribute to the heroism of first responders. 

The glass appears to have been shattered approximately 11 feet off the ground and is contained within the panel. The names on the west side are no longer legible. 

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Westfield Police Department at 908-789-4000.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.