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A Utah fire hydrant was painted blue to honor a police officer who was killed. A ‘subhuman’ dumped red paint on it.

(Photo courtesy Unified Police Department) In this photo from March 8, 2019, someone poured red paint on a fire hydrant painted navy blue in honor of deceased West Valley City police officer Cody Brotherson. Police are trying to find the vandals. The hydrant sits near 2200 W. 4100 South. Brotherson's badge number is displayed besides the hydrant.

(Photo courtesy Unified Police Department) In this photo from March 8, 2019, someone poured red paint on a fire hydrant painted navy blue in honor of deceased West Valley City police officer Cody Brotherson. Police are trying to find the vandals. The hydrant sits near 2200 W. 4100 South. Brotherson's badge number is displayed besides the hydrant.

To remember where West Valley City police officer Cody Brotherson died the night of Nov. 6, 2016, the city painted a fire hydrant navy blue. Brotherson’s badge number, 8444, was placed in the concrete beside the hydrant.

Now police are trying to find whoever vandalized the hydrant, near 2200 W. 4100 South, by pouring red paint on it. A Facebook post captures the anger of local police.

“Please help West Valley Police identify the subhuman(s) who have defiled the fire hydrant near 2200 W 4100 S.,” the post from the Unified Police Department’s Taylorsville Precinct reads. “This is hallow[ed] ground, as it is the same area where Officer Cody Brotherson was savagely murdered by a group of gang members. All give some, some give all!”

The boundary for Taylorsville is near the hydrant. UPD spokesman Detective Kevin Mallory said the assumption is someone poured the paint to desecrate Brotherson’s memorial. Mallory was not aware of any suspects. He encouraged anyone with information to call West Valley City police at 801-840-4000.

UPD officers responded to the scene the night Brotherson died. Three teenage boys were fleeing in a stolen car and the driver ran over Brotherson, killing him.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A photo of West Valley City Officer Cody Brotherson, during a memorial ceremony at Fairbourne Station Plaza in West Valley City on the one year anniversary of Brotherson's death. Monday, November 6, 2017.

A boy who was 16 when sentenced in 2017, and who was suspected of driving, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Another boy, who was 14 when sentenced, pleaded guilty to second-degree felony manslaughter.

The third boy, age 15 when sentenced, who was in the back seat and claimed he told the driver to stop, was not convicted of any charge related to Brotherson’s death. All three boys pleaded guilty to a variety of other charges related to stealing the car and fleeing.

All three teens were sentenced to juvenile detention. They could remain there until age 21 unless a juvenile parole board releases them earlier.

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