ORLANDO, Fla. – A slain Orlando officer's patrol car was vandalized outside of the Orlando Police Department, the OPD tweeted Friday afternoon, according to a report from WKMG.
The police department said the act was "unbelievably sad," but did not give any other details.
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Unbelievably sad someone would vandalize Lt. Debra Clayton's vehicle. pic.twitter.com/2yairat1Rq
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 20, 2017
Lt. Debra Clayton, 42, was shot and killed Jan. 9 outside a Walmart while trying to make contact with Markeith Loyd, who was wanted in the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Loyd was arrested Tuesday night at an abandoned home in the Carver Shores neighborhood of Orlando, bringing a massive nine-day manhunt to an end.
Clayton's car had been parked outside of the OPD headquarters since she was killed as a way for community members to remember and honor her.
"It's just tradition so that people can come see her vehicle, and you know, it's a piece of her," Orlando police Chief John Mina said.
OPD @ChiefJohnMina talks about why we honor Master Sgt. Debra Clayton's patrol vehicle in front of OPD Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/2ca9uHjurJ
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 10, 2017
Mina said it also gave a place for fellow officers to go and pay their respects, as well.