08/22/2026
City of Paramount statement on theft of Armed Forces Memorial Statue
The City of Paramount is deeply disappointed and saddened by the theft of the bronze Kneeling Soldier and Battlefield Cross statue from our Armed Forces Memorial Plaza at City Hall late Tuesday evening, Aug. 18.
This memorial holds special significance for our community since it was created as a place of respect and gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country, which makes this horrible crime especially troubling. Public art is an important part of Paramount, and we are deeply disappointed that a piece intended to honor and serve our community was targeted in this way.
Following a previous act of theft involving a piece of the statue in 2025, the City made significant investments to better protect the memorial and the surrounding plaza. These improvements included reinforcing parts of the statue that were previously stolen, installing enhanced security cameras, adding lighting and signage, and cutting back landscaping to improve visibility and security throughout the area.
Unfortunately, despite these additional safeguards, those responsible were able to deliberately target the memorial and remove the statue in less than four minutes.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is actively investigating this incident, and the City is cooperating fully with that investigation. We encourage anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity, has video footage from the area, or has any information that could assist investigators to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (562) 623-3500.
We appreciate the concern and support already expressed by members of our community. The City remains committed to honoring our veterans, protecting our public spaces, and preserving the public art that makes Paramount a special place to live, work, and visit.
