Stolen Flag Recovered by Corporal Purdy
WILLARD, Mo. A stolen American flag from New York was found in Willard.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Cathy Scoppo of Williamson, New York, reported a stolen American flag she had on display at the campground she manages.
But it wasn't just any flag. It was a flag draped over her father's coffin when he died in 1969. She was 14-years-old at the time. Her father, Corporal Michael Cowley served in World War II.
"That flag was on his casket, it was folded and presented to my mother at the funeral," Scoppo said.
The theft happened when a family from the Willard area vacationed at the campground she manages. Scoppo posted about the theft on Facebook, and through that post she received a tip about the person who took the flag. Through that tip, police traced the theft to a 16-year-old from Willard.
Corporal Steve Purdy of Willard Police was assigned to the case. Purdy said the teen finally admitted to the theft, but not at first. He initially said he left the flag back at the campground.
"The boy sent us on a wild goose chase, gave us a map saying this is where it is in the campground and we went out searching," Scoppo said.
"And they started searching that night and they searched until about midnight," Purdy said.
He went back to the teen's house a second time.
"And he said he brought the flag back to Missouri," Purdy said.
The teen turned the flag over to the police officer.
"Any Willard officer would have responded in the same way I did. What we do here is help people but I feel blessed that I was given the opportunity to help out this family," Purdy said.
The flag is now on its way back to Scoppo and her family.
"It was amazing, the work they put into it. I can't thank either one of them enough. The officers in Missouri treated it with the respect it deserves and folded it back the way it was folded I'd love to give them all a hug. And I'm giving Corporal Purdy a long-distance hug," Scoppo said.
Police said the case has been referred to the juvenile division. It's unclear if the teen will face any consequences for the theft.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Cathy Scoppo of Williamson, New York, reported a stolen American flag she had on display at the campground she manages.
But it wasn't just any flag. It was a flag draped over her father's coffin when he died in 1969. She was 14-years-old at the time. Her father, Corporal Michael Cowley served in World War II.
"That flag was on his casket, it was folded and presented to my mother at the funeral," Scoppo said.
The theft happened when a family from the Willard area vacationed at the campground she manages. Scoppo posted about the theft on Facebook, and through that post she received a tip about the person who took the flag. Through that tip, police traced the theft to a 16-year-old from Willard.
Corporal Steve Purdy of Willard Police was assigned to the case. Purdy said the teen finally admitted to the theft, but not at first. He initially said he left the flag back at the campground.
"The boy sent us on a wild goose chase, gave us a map saying this is where it is in the campground and we went out searching," Scoppo said.
"And they started searching that night and they searched until about midnight," Purdy said.
He went back to the teen's house a second time.
"And he said he brought the flag back to Missouri," Purdy said.
The teen turned the flag over to the police officer.
"Any Willard officer would have responded in the same way I did. What we do here is help people but I feel blessed that I was given the opportunity to help out this family," Purdy said.
The flag is now on its way back to Scoppo and her family.
"It was amazing, the work they put into it. I can't thank either one of them enough. The officers in Missouri treated it with the respect it deserves and folded it back the way it was folded I'd love to give them all a hug. And I'm giving Corporal Purdy a long-distance hug," Scoppo said.
Police said the case has been referred to the juvenile division. It's unclear if the teen will face any consequences for the theft.
Police Department
Mission Statement: We will enhance public safety and improve the quality of life in Willard by exemplifying our values of professionalism and dedication through the use of partnerships, creative problem solving and innovative police strategies. This can be summarized as follows:
- Help people
- Enforce the law
- Lead by example
- Prevent crime
The City of Willard Police Department has established a great working relationship with the community. The community's ideas and values reflect on the Police Department and how it functions. City government believes in the "community" (all parts and aspects of the community) and with this a strong working environment with the Police Department. This creates a positive working environment with the community and therefore enhances the quality of life in Willard.
The Willard Police Department strongly believes and is actively involved in the concept of "Community Oriented Policing". The Police Department strives for a proactive response to crime and looks toward community involvement in order to function effectively.
The Police Department is located at 795 Hughes Road and operates twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week. Administrative office hours are Mon- Fri 8AM to 4:30PM. The Police Station was dedicated in May 2002 as the "Joe L. Cosby Law Enforcement Justice Center."
Along with the Uniformed Patrol Division (comprised of 10 full time Police Officers, 2 Civilian Employees, 6 Reserve Police Officers and 2 School Resource Officers who are commissioned by the Department but receive their pay and benefits from the Willard School District), the Police Department has two (2) certified investigators, a D.A.R.E Program and the Police Athletic League (PAL Program).
The Willard Police Department is comprised of the following personnel:
Tom McClain - Chief of Police, Director of PAL Program
Shannon Shipley - Lieutenant, Lead Investigator, Radar Instructor, FTO Supervisor
Bob Bell - Corporal, Firearms Instructor, FTO, Tazor Instructor
Steve Purdy - Corporal, Investigator, FTO
Scott Rowe - Police Officer
Andrew Stone - Police Officer
Joe Duran - Police Officer
Benjamin Peebles - Police Officer
Dakota Radford - Police Officer
Kellyn Bailey - Police Officer
Clint Heimbach - SRO, WPD Reserve
Wyatt Sharp -SRO, CCW Instructor
Glenn Cozzens - Reserve
Brian Gordon - Reserve
J.D. Landon - Reserve
Andy Hunt - Reserve
Brian Hinkle - Reserve
Sondra Meed- Police Services Representative
Lin Stonehouse - Secretary (PT)
Contact information for the Police Department is as follows:
chiefofpolice@cityofwillard.org
police@cityofwillard.org
Phone: (417) 742-3077
Fax: (417) 742-4710
Emergency: 911
The Willard Police Department strongly believes and is actively involved in the concept of "Community Oriented Policing". The Police Department strives for a proactive response to crime and looks toward community involvement in order to function effectively.
The Police Department is located at 795 Hughes Road and operates twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week. Administrative office hours are Mon- Fri 8AM to 4:30PM. The Police Station was dedicated in May 2002 as the "Joe L. Cosby Law Enforcement Justice Center."
Along with the Uniformed Patrol Division (comprised of 10 full time Police Officers, 2 Civilian Employees, 6 Reserve Police Officers and 2 School Resource Officers who are commissioned by the Department but receive their pay and benefits from the Willard School District), the Police Department has two (2) certified investigators, a D.A.R.E Program and the Police Athletic League (PAL Program).
The Willard Police Department is comprised of the following personnel:
Tom McClain - Chief of Police, Director of PAL Program
Shannon Shipley - Lieutenant, Lead Investigator, Radar Instructor, FTO Supervisor
Bob Bell - Corporal, Firearms Instructor, FTO, Tazor Instructor
Steve Purdy - Corporal, Investigator, FTO
Scott Rowe - Police Officer
Andrew Stone - Police Officer
Joe Duran - Police Officer
Benjamin Peebles - Police Officer
Dakota Radford - Police Officer
Kellyn Bailey - Police Officer
Clint Heimbach - SRO, WPD Reserve
Wyatt Sharp -SRO, CCW Instructor
Glenn Cozzens - Reserve
Brian Gordon - Reserve
J.D. Landon - Reserve
Andy Hunt - Reserve
Brian Hinkle - Reserve
Sondra Meed- Police Services Representative
Lin Stonehouse - Secretary (PT)
Contact information for the Police Department is as follows:
chiefofpolice@cityofwillard.org
police@cityofwillard.org
Phone: (417) 742-3077
Fax: (417) 742-4710
Emergency: 911
