WAIMEA — County officials report a mobile chair, which is used for people with disabilities, was damaged at the Waimea public swimming pool. Pool staff discovered the chair lift was ripped off its platform and thrown into the pool, a
WAIMEA — County officials report a mobile chair, which is used for people with disabilities, was damaged at the Waimea public swimming pool.
Pool staff discovered the chair lift was ripped off its platform and thrown into the pool, a county news release states.
The crime took place sometime in the past few days.
The staff spent several hours Thursday retrieving the broken parts.
“We’re very disappointed that this senseless act was committed,” says Lenny Rapozo, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “Now, people with special needs who use the chair lift in order to engage in water activities can no longer do so at the Waimea pool.”
He notes this type of vandalism affects everyone.
“There are replacement costs and manpower requirements, all of which are born by the taxpayer,” Rapozo says. “In addition, the time spent tending to this project means time taken away from another parks project.”
Anyone with information regarding the vandalism is urged to call Police Dispatch at 241-1711, or Crime Stoppers at 241-1887.
Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization that offers cash rewards of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides anonymous information that leads to an arrest.
