It's a dam shame

Westbrook (WTNH) - Vandals have spray painted the dam at Messerschmidt Pond in Westbrook with racial slurs and symbols.

Cathy Cooke was born and raised just up the road from the graffiti and is horrified.

"I'm so embarrassed, I'm so embarrassed," she said shaking her head. "It's not supposed to happen in a small town. Deep River and Westbrook are really nice communities so I'm a little beside myself right now."

The graffiti was first discovered on Monday. News Channel 8 was there as Westbrook's First Selectman Noel Bishop stopped by to take a look at the damage.

"I think I can speak for every citizen in this town, this is an absolute outrage," he said.

Bishop says he's seen graffiti in town in the past, but nothing that goes quite this far.

"It's hard to even look at it, quite frankly," he said.

The dam falls under DEP jurisdiction, and Bishop hopes crews come out soon to clean it up. He also hopes police will find those responsible.

Governor Jodi Rell says hotline (860-424-3333) has been set up for tips regarding this crime. She says the DEP is actively investigating this incident, and the property is being cleaned up this afternoon.

In a written statement Rell said,  "Connecticut simply will not tolerate bigotry or racism. I want those who are guilty of this cowardly act to get that message loud and clear. To intimidate anyone because of their race or any other characteristic is a repugnant and cowardly act. By law , it is a discriminatory practice to intentionally desecrate any public property."