2 cruisers lead Jackson mementos to cemetery

Saturday, July 18, 2009
Police escort criticized
2 cruisers lead Jackson mementos to cemetery
Santiago Esparza / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Two hearses jammed with stuffed animals left in memory of Michael Jackson were given a two-car police escort Friday to the toys' burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, leaving police officials highly critical of the decision afterward. "There's no way to defend it," Detroit Police 2nd Deputy Chief John Roach said. "It's unacceptable. Clearly, this is not something that ever should have happened." Detroit Police officials said they couldn't say how much the escort cost the city. The escort guided the hearses from the funeral procession through red lights.

Mourners had left the toys and other items at the Motown Historical Museum on West Grand Boulevard since the singer died June 25 at age 50. After sitting outside for three weeks, the toys were not safe to donate to a children's museum or orphanage, museum Chief Operating Officer Audley Smith said. "We have now concluded that it would be best to bury the items," Smith said Friday morning.

(snip)

At the cemetery, the toys were unloaded from the tops of the hearses and from boxes inside the vehicles. They were then placed into clear plastic bags and then inside donated vaults. The cemetery donated the equivalent of three graves for the vaults. A donated gravestone also detailed the singer's impact on the music industry and the world.

(snip)




Find this article at:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090718/METRO01/907180357/2-cruisers-lead-Jackson-mementos-to-cemetery

and, yes, the toys could have been donated to children hospital, set aside for Christmas, etc. Just one more insane item about Jackson.

with the burial since the items won't be cluttering a landfill. I suppose you both missed this in the article

After sitting outside for three weeks, the toys were not safe to donate to a children's museum

I do think the museum should pay for the time and expenses associated with the police escort - the escort was over the top and needless expense for the Detroit PD.

The museum donated the space, saved landfill space and a memorial was established for MJ.

"After sitting outside for three weeks, the toys were not safe to donate to a children's museum or orphanage, museum Chief Operating Officer Audley Smith said. "We have now concluded that it would be best to bury the items," Smith said Friday morning."


Too bad they did not think of putting a donation box so that toys could have been donated for use by children in honor of Michael Jackson instead of just leaving them out in the weather.

The whole exercise was just ... stupid.

the taco bell dog today.