U.S. flags on I-84 overpass served as memorial. Boise police say some were spray-painted
Boise police are investigating the vandalism of 22 American flags hanging on the Cloverdale Road overpass.
The Idaho Transportation Department removed all 32 flags that were hanging at the overpass and turned them over to the Boise Police Department, which determined that nearly two dozen of them were spray-painted with a blue letter.
Police said they were working to determine whether a message or statement was painted onto the flags. The investigation also determined that traffic cameras in the area were tampered with before the incident, which took place Wednesday, according to a news release.
The flags were hanging there as a memorial for a fiery crash on Interstate 84 that killed four people on June 17, 2018, when interstate construction was ongoing. Among those killed were three airmen from the Mountain Home Air Force base: Senior Airman Carlos V. Johnson, 23; Senior Airman Lawrence P. Manlapit III, 26; and Senior Airman Karlie A. Westall, 21.
In a late-afternoon release, ITD said it had securely fastened 32 new American flags at the overpass as replacements. The agency said it also was considering the possibility of a permanent memorial at the site.
“Vandalism of this type is not typical in Idaho. Working with community members and the Boise Police Department, our crew took quick action to remove the damaged flags and replace them with new ones. Above all, we made sure the entire process was carried out with the utmost respect,” ITD Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney said in the release.
Police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information related to the flag vandalism to contact the Boise Police Department directly at 208-570-6000 or call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Members of the Boise Police Honor Guard are refolding the flags to turn over to the Idaho Transportation Department to be properly retired, the earlier news release said. ITD later said that American Legion Post 201 would hold a decommissioning ceremony for the flags.
This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 12:56 PM.