In a Wednesday, photo, a squirrel makes off with a flag from the Toledo Police Memorial in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Toledo Blade via Toledo Police Dept, Lt. James Brown) 

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Police in Ohio have discovered that small flags being swiped from a police memorial were being squirreled away.

 Two Toledo officers watched on Wednesday as a squirrel quickly snatched a flag off its wooden dowel and ran off with it. Lt. James Brown told The Blade newspaper the bushy-tailed critter was too quick to catch.

Later, police noticed a squirrel hanging out on a tree branch outside a third-floor window at their headquarters building. They also spotted a squirrel's nest made of leaves and branches — and at least two of the little flags.

Brown says at least three of the flags have gone missing in recent days.

He's careful to point out he can't prove all were the work of the same squirrel.

Members of the law enforcement community will say goodbye to one of its own today.

Senior volunteer Eugene “Gene” LaLiberte, 91, will be remembered at a ceremony 11 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way.

At his request, he will be laid to rest wearing his volunteer uniform. In lieu of flowers, family suggests contributions to the Spokane Law Enforcement Museum.

Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said LaLiberte “will always have a place of honor” in the department.

“Gene was a pillar of volunteerism,” she said in a prepared statement. “He is irreplaceable and will be truly missed.”

Read my story here.

In addition to volunteering with SPD and other activities, LaLiberte dressed as Santa Claus at Spokane International Airport each Christmas Eve for more than 30 years.

He was featured in this Christmas Day article in 2006.