Former Olympic canoeist Davey Hearn was hauled into custody on the Reflecting Pool this week after police alleged he vandalised the landmark.
The 67‑year‑old died on 31 May, a long‑distance cyclist who had recently finished a 76‑mile ride along the capital’s western shore. When he paused to remove a gym glove he reportedly touched a thin strip of the new blue paint that had “delaminated” from the pool’s base—per Hearn, only a brief contact before the park worker asked him to stop.
Hearn told BBC News that the paint surface hadn’t changed and that he would not have removed any material. He called his arrest “arbitrary” and said it was part of a strategy to set an example.
The pool, a 619-metre stretch between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, was recently resurfaced at a cost of approximately $13 million. Work included cleaning algae, resealing seams and repainting the slab in a blue shade chosen by then‑President Trump.
Despite the overhaul, the water has continued to show green algae and patches of peeling paint. TV footage demonstrates workers using vacuums and hoses to remove green patches, showing the ongoing struggle with the pool’s maintenance.
Trump tweeted that “US Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalising our Nation’s magnificent Reflecting Pool”. The president promised immediate overhaul work and alleged that toxic chemicals had been poured into the pool, though no evidence has been presented. He also warned that the pool might need to be drained and refilled to repair the alleged damage.
The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing cost and political debate over public works projects that run over budget or fail to deliver on promises.
