The RCMP is investigating after two memorials for first responders were vandalized in Moncton’s Victoria Park.

Police received a complaint Sunday evening that red paint had been sprayed on the International Association of Firefighters memorial, which honours firefighters who died while serving the people of Moncton.

Red paint was also sprayed on the Moncton Police Force memorial, which honours officers killed in the line of duty.

Area residents are expressing shock and disgust over the vandalism of the memorials, which are located near Park Street.

“I was one of the ones that was involved in getting this monument here back in 2000 and it was to give our fallen members a peaceful place to rest, to honour them,” says Allan MacNutt of the Moncton Firefighters Historical Society. “And here it is somebody just goes and does something like that to it … I’m still in shock.”

Members of the Moncton Fire Department managed to remove most of the paint with a cleaner and pressure washer, but some lines of paint still remain.

“Poor timing, unfortunately for us. This is the year we host our 9/11 ceremony here in Moncton, and we have the unfortunate situation of having to put another name on the monument, so it just adds salt to the wounds,” says All Mitton of the Moncton Firefighters Association.

Andrew Petrie’s name is supposed to the added to the monument this year. He passed away last year while serving as a training officer.

“The tough question is, what would the families think about this?” says Mitton, who was just coming off a 24-hour shift when he learned of the vandalism.

Police are trying to determine when the vandalism occurred and who is responsible, but they believe it may have happened around 3 p.m. Sunday.

“What we have so far, it happened mid-afternoon, and we are looking for anybody that could have seen someone doing this to call Codiac RCMP or Crime Stoppers,” says New Brunswick RCMP Sgt. Andre Pepin.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen someone loitering around the monuments on the weekend to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Laura Brown