A banner reading "more dead cops" was found Sunday afternoon hanging from an overpass on Route 9 near Albany, N.Y.
The banner was taken down around 5:10 p.m. Sunday after the police received a call, local media reported.
"They put the sign on the overpass, but it’s insignificant. The police are resilient," Retired Police Cpt. John Cooney said.
The banner included a symbol–an "A" with a circle around it–much like those used during recent antifa Riots in Berkley, Ca.
It is unknown how long the banner was up, but the community outcry was strong against the banner.
"It’s absolute horror," resident Johnathan Falk said "We’re talking about people who put their lives on the line every day for strangers for not a lot of money, and they’re getting so disrespected. It’s terrible."
"It feels that it’s not safe nowadays, and it shouldn’t be like that," said another resident, Peggy Walford.
Cooney said there could be argument for free speech, but legality is an "extremely difficult issue to ponder" in these matters.
"There could be trespass issues; there could be unlawful use of property type of issues with state and whoever has ownership and responsibility for the bridge," Cooney said.
Ultimately, Cooney said it would be "a waste of time" for police officers to worry about the message.
"To be frank, to worry about the statement made on the banner today would be a waste of our time," Cooney said. "We will continue to do our job and serve the citizens as we always have."