Supervisor Don Knabe will be introducing a $5,000 reward for information on the vandals responsible for carving a large swastika into a putting green at Lakewood Country Club over the weekend.

Sometime in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 28, vandals broke into the County-owned golf course and carved an approximately eight foot by eight foot swastika into the putting green on Hole #1. Vandals also dug several deep holes into the green near the swastika.

The damage was discovered by an employee at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday morning and reported to the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station. The investigation into the vandalism is ongoing.

Crews have already repaired the damage to the golf course, and the swastika is no longer visible. In response, Supervisor Knabe will be asking his colleagues to approve an urgency motion at tomorrow’s Board of Supervisors meeting to establish a $5,000 reward for information about this vandalism or those responsible.

The physical damage to the golf course may be repaired already, but the lasting damage that crimes like this leave on a community can be far more devastating, said Supervisor Knabe. This vandalism is simple and unacceptable hatred. The residents of Lakewood will not tolerate it, and the County will not tolerate it at our publically-owned golf courses.

Questions or information can be directed to Detective Theo Gekas of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station at (562) 623-3500. The damage has been repaired, but a photo from when the vandalism was first discovered is attached to this press release.