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Reports of skate park memorial sign theft erroneous
skate park pic
The memorial plaque honoring Turlock skateboarder Brandon Koch was not stolen. City of Turlock workers removed it temporarily after it was found leaning over. - photo by Journal file photo

The reports that a memorial plaque honoring a Turlock skateboarder had been stolen from the skate park are nothing more than rumors.

The plaque for 26-year-old Brandon Koch was removed by the City of Turlock when it was found leaning over in its base.

“It did look like someone had tried to take it, but they weren’t able to get it out,” said Erik Schulze, the City’s Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities superintendent. “We took it and will re-install it with reinforced concrete.”

The plaque was first reported stolen on social media and later reported on KCRA Channel 3.

Koch was an avid skateboarder and spent much of his free time at the Turlock skate park until he was diagnosed with adrenocortical cancer. He died in 2012 and in 2013 the skate park was officially renamed the Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park. The memorial included a decorative granite monument with a special skateboard plaque made by longtime friend Kameron Schumann.

The Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park will eventually be relocated from the Starr Avenue location to Donnelly Park.