Cop's Artistic Proposal Scores A Yes

GAINSVILLE, FL — When a Gainesville Police Officer decided it was high time to ask his girlfriend for her hand in marriage, he used a local landmark to help him get the job done.

With a can of red spray paint in hand, Officer Hickey added his own mark to the famous 34th Street Wall. “Ashley will you marry me” he wrote in capital letters, leaving an underlined spot for her to write her answer.

Ready to pop the question, Hickey used his lunchbreak to bring his would-be bride to the location. While the words on the wall said it all, he also held her hands while explaining the reasons that make her “the one.” Then, in a nod to tradition, he took to bended knee to present her with a ring.

The entire exchange was caught on video with others officers and area residents looking on. Ashley even obliged by painting her answer on the wall in the spot provided for her.

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While painting graffiti is generally considered a crime, Gainesville’s 34th Street Wall is a little different. The wall itself is a 1,120-foot local landmark that was built in the late 1970s to prevent erosion. Since its construction, the wall has become a canvas for local and professional graffiti artists. In its time, it’s served as the backdrop for many public awareness campaigns, tributes, birthday wishes and wedding proposals. The city even used it to paint a welcome message for Gainesville native Tom Petty, the legendary musician, on one of his returns home.

Considering the wall’s history and the fact that some sections have more than 200 layers of paint, the police department and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office have both refrained from charging anyone with criminal mischief for painting on the wall.

“No, Officer Hickey didn’t arrest himself or his new fiancée for painting on the 34th Street Wall,” the agency explained on Facebook.

And, just to be sure folks knew the time use was legit, the agency added, “Yes, there were other officers out patrolling the city when this occurred. Cops get a lunch break just like everyone else.”

Facebook video screenshot courtesy of the Gainesville Police Department