LANSING, Mich. — A roadside memorial to a fallen firefighter who was run down has gone missing.
Lansing State Journal reported that the memorial, honoring Lansing firefighter Dennis Rodeman, was last seen around Oct. 16. Rodeman was killed Sept. 9 after he was hit by a truck at an intersection while collecting donations for a ‘Fill the Boot’ fundraiser.
The memorial was a boot with flowers and a sign as a tribute to Rodeman.
“My avenues are starting to dry up,” said Lansing Fire Chief Mike Tobin. “I personally will continue on every lead and possibility that I can think of until we can figure out what happened. I’ve got eight years until I can retire from the fire department, so I’ve got a long time.”
The incident isn’t being treated as a criminal matter, Tobin said.
“It had quite a lot of meaning,” Lansing firefighter Steve Babcock said. “It’s one of those things where you notice it as you drive by and all of a sudden, ‘What’s different here?’ type of thing.”
Plans are underway for a permanent department memorial.