Meeting scheduled with Benicia Police Department

[meeting postponed until Wednesday,  February 25, 2009]

The Benicia Police Department has offered to meet with me to discuss Benicia's graffiti problem. Here are the issues that I plan to discuss at our meeting today (2-20-09) at 4pm. I will keep you advised of what transpires. Please email me with any other issues or questions that you would like me to raise. My email address is rsagun@sbcglobal.net

..Ross Sagun

2/20/09

Dear Officer Cruz:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me later this afternoon to discuss Benicia's growing problem with graffiti. I am pleased that the Benicia Police Department has decided to appoint you as our Graffiti Officer.

So that we may make the best use of our time, here is a list of issues that I would like to discuss with you.

1. who is doing the graffiti
   
2. who has been arrested
   
3. who in city government is charged with overseeing the problem/strategy/budget of this problem
   
4. what is the rate of occurrence of graffiti crimes (how many have occurred in 2008 vs 2007)
   
5. what is the criteria for classifying incidents (incident number? How do Roger Core's reports get integrated into the stats?)
   
6. what is the cost of graffiti abatement and enforcement
   
7. what is the budget for graffiti abatement and enforcement
   
8. what is the status of the New Year's Day arrest at BHS
   
9. what happened at the X-Park and what is being done about it
   
10. what is the city's strategy to attack the problem
    
11. where are the graffiti hotspots in Benicia
    
12. when will the xpark be remediated and reopened
    
13. when are graffiti offenses being committed? (e.g. mostly at night?)
    
14. how does the BPD investigate and catalog graffiti offenses
    
15. how does the BPD process graffiti-based evidence (e.g. paint cans located at scenes, graffiti indicating specific names in its content)
    

I would also like to get your feedback on the following ideas:

1. the use of cameras to catch suspects, as other cities have successfully done
   
2. reward system
   
3. tip hotline
   
4. graffiti page on the website
   
5. school information program
   

Thanks again to you and BPD for being responsive to the community's concerns about this problem. I am looking forward to meeting with you later today.

..Ross Sagun

This says it all. Haven't we had enough of this nonsense?

Benicia needs the following NOW to stop this graffiti nonsense:

• a strengthened graffiti ordinance that punishes the perpetrators, not the victims
• a reward system for information leading to the arrest of taggers
• a tip hotline
• a website showing the latest tags and asking for information leading to the taggers
• a portable, covert camera system that can be easily relocated to graffiti/vandalism hotspots
• an anti-graffiti/vandalism awareness program in our schools
  
• making the arrest and conviction of taggers a priority, which is not now the case. Just ask: When was the last graffiti arrest?

Until we get serious about this problem, its only going to get worse.

..Ross Sagun

Massive Graffiti Attack at Benicia Community Park

It looks like Benicia's graffiti problem isn't going to go away anytime soon. Vandals hit the skateboard park at Benicia's Community Park within the last couple of days. The damage is so extensive that the facility has been closed, at least temporarily. It is anyone's guess as to when it will reopen. I went up there today to see the damage. There were a few people using it despite it being closed.

Removing this graffiti will be difficult, read EXPENSIVE. It can't be powerwashed because that will pit the surface, causing a dangerous condition for skateboarders. It has to be scrubbed off.

How much more money is going to be wasted while the City of Benicia contemplates getting serious about stopping this graffiti? I've heard one estimate that Benicia is probably spending about $40,000 in abatement costs annually. Say, that's about 80 times the cost of a cheap camera system and about 16 times the cost of a professional system used by other cities. Maybe Benicia doesn't suffer from the same budget woes that everyone else is experiencing. Who knows?

Isn't it curious that the City cares enough about the recycling dumpster at the Corp Yard off E. 2nd St. to put up 3, yes 3, surveillance cameras, but so far none have been planned for the graffiti problem? I guess the dumpster is a higher priority, and for that I am truly disappointed.

..Ross Sagun

They are back! Graffiti vandals strike again.

The graffiti vandals are at it again. This is about the 5th time my brick wall has been hit. Last week it was the tunnel, again.

When is the City of Benicia going to get serious about stopping this activity? How many more times is the City going to have to repaint the tunnel? How many more police reports are going to have to be taken? There were no less than 50 new graffiti tags that popped up over the holiday, according to the City.

When is the City of Benicia, specifically the Benicia City Council, going to finally do the right thing...that is, put up a camera? I say the time is NOW. The cost is minimal - potentially less than $300. I will volunteer the use of my property. The City has $20,000 to spend on Harleys. How about a couple of hundred to stop this vandalism?

Come on folks...step up to the plate and do the right thing for us. Let's face it...its not going to go away unless we take action.

How one city's council and police department cracked down on graffiti

A joint effort between Auckland City Council and police has led to the arrest of eight of the city's ten most destructive graffiti vandals.

The council's community services committee chairman, Paul Goldsmith, said all eight were now before the courts.

Mr Goldsmith said the arrests were the result of a collaborative operation between Auckland City Council and the police to eradicate graffiti vandalism in the city.

They brought the number of arrests of graffiti vandals since July to 31.

"The council's focus is now to apprehend the next group of the city's worst graffiti vandals."

Mr Goldsmith said the 0800 STOP TAGS offender information hotline, which offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals, was producing good results.

The council also introduced a new citywide eradication service in July, with contractors removing graffiti vandalism seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The new service had seen graffiti vandalism removed from over 16,000 sites.

"Getting rid of graffiti vandalism demands a zero-tolerance approach and part of this involves removing the graffiti as quickly and consistently as possible," he said.

NZPA

Graffiti with racial slurs, Obama threats reported

Graffiti with racial slurs, Obama threats reported

UNION-TRIBUNE (San Diego, CA) 7:06 a.m. October 31, 2008 SAN MARCOS: Residents in the city's upscale San Elijo Hills neighborhood found graffiti with racial slurs about blacks and malicious words and threats directed at presidential candidate Barack Obama yesterday morning. The graffiti was found in six to eight locations in San Elijo Hills and all of it was about Obama, African-Americans or Muslims, said Jenny Peterson, spokeswoman for the city of San Marcos. One message said, “Death to Obama.” Residents reported the graffiti about 7:15 a.m., Peterson said, and city crews immediately covered it. A vandalism report with a hate-crime enhancement was filed with the Sheriff's Department, she said. Sheriff's deputies are investigating. The city is offering a $1,000 award to anyone who provides information that can help determine who was responsible. Anonymous tips can be posted at sdcrimestoppers.com. San Elijo Hills, which is still being built, is in southwest San Marcos and borders Carlsbad. San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond issued a statement yesterday afternoon saying he is disturbed that such graffiti was found in his city. “This is a shameful display of hate and absolutely will not be tolerated in our community,” he said. –L.L.

Benicia City Council approves amending the graffiti ordinance

On October 22, 2008 I asked Mayor Patterson the following:

Elizabeth:

There is renewed interest in the rewrite of Benicia's Graffiti Ordinance given the latest incident along the 3rd Street Tunnel pathway which included racial epithets. Could you please update us on any progress being made with regard to this issue?
Ross

Here is her response:

Ross:

Below are the notes from the Minutes of Council Meeting. We should have this on our next agenda, November 4th. Check for the agenda later this afternooon on the city website.

Elizabeth


Analysis of the Graffiti Ordinance - continued from September 2, 2008 City Council
Meeting:

Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli and Dan Schiada, Public Works Director, reviewed the
staff report. Council and Staff discussed Suisun’s Report, Remove, and Repair (RRR) Program, the City’s ‘Adopt a Street’ program and how something similar could work for this issue,
fines, property owners’ responsibility regarding graffiti, financial strains for some
property owners with regards to graffiti removal/fines, anti-graffiti measures, the City’s
Minutes of the City Council Meeting – September 16, 2008 11
current response time for graffiti removal, response time for property owners removing
graffiti. On motion of Council Member Hughes, seconded by Vice Mayor Campbell, Council approved the direction to Staff to proceed with amending the graffiti ordinance, on roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Hughes, Ioakimedes, Schwartzman, and Mayor Patterson
Noes: None

To the City Council, thank you. Keep up the good work!
..Ross Sagun

How Tough is Benicia's Graffiti Ordinance? Don't We Deserve an Ordinance That Works?

Tougher penalties in new regulations
By Helen Gao
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
May 22, 2008

SAN DIEGO – Graffiti vandals will have a harder time shoplifting spray paint and broad-tipped indelible markers under new regulations that have received preliminary approval from the San Diego City Council.

The revisions also include tougher penalties for graffiti vandalism. The changes will be adopted after a second reading that could take place as early as next week.

The new regulations will require stores to keep items that are used for graffiti either in a locked display case or in an enclosed area behind a service counter [does Benicia's ordinance require this? NO], out of easy reach of minors and shoplifters.

Currently, such items can be left in the open as long as they remain under constant supervision by an employee. However, the city's code compliance department has indicated that vendors are not providing constant supervision.

Under the updated ordinance, markers with a tip 4 millimeters or broader and that use non-water-soluble ink must be secured [does Benicia's ordinance require this? NO]. Other items that are already regulated as potential graffiti tools include aerosol paint and glass-etching products.

The ordinance, which got preliminary approval last week, also updates the municipal code by incorporating state penalties for graffiti offenses [does Benicia's ordinance require this? NO] . Under those guidelines, vandals can be charged with a felony and get a state prison sentence of up to three years, pay up to $10,000 in fines and full restitution to victims and perform community service. State law also allows enhanced penalties for defacing cemeteries and houses of worship [does Benicia's ordinance require this? NO] .

The municipal code, as it stands today, provides only for misdemeanor prosecutions of graffiti violators.

The new ordinance further requires the offices of the mayor and city attorney to provide annual reports to the City Council [does Benicia's ordinance require this? NO]Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhood Services about graffiti cleanup and enforcement efforts.

The city has budgeted $1.6 million this fiscal year for graffiti abatement, enforcement and public education. That amount does not include what other agencies and private-property owners spend. The city receives 2,300 to 3,000 requests for graffiti removal per month.

Sound familiar? It does to me.

Racist graffiti scrawled in bathroom of Stratford city hall Wed, October 22, 2008
By JOE BELANGER, SUN MEDIA

Two men are charged after a washroom at Stratford city hall was defaced with racist images and slurs in what police describe as a "deplorable" hate crime.

"It's deplorable that someone in today's society would make such derogatory comments against any race or religion and the courts have been tough on these crimes and I expect they'll see a very, very stiff penalty," said Insp. Sam Theocharis.

Police said two men entered the washroom on the bottom floor Tuesday and covered the walls in racial slurs written in white chalk that demeaned several races and religious groups. There was also a "hang man" drawing with a racial slur against blacks and a happy face beside the stick image of a person being hanged.

Witnesses who entered the bathroom before and after the two men entered and left the washroom were interviewed, police said.

An angry Stratford Mayor Dan Matheson said he was sickened by the images.

"I'm alarmed by it," said Matheson. "I saw the information written on the wall and it's beyond reprehensible. It speaks to the lack of understanding these people possess as to what this community is all about - a diverse community, one that embraces different cultures, races and religions."

Matheson said he's heard of other racial slurs written at locations around the city, but it was always the work of misguided juveniles.

"This is the first time these kinds of words have been put in place with such an alarming boldness," said Matheson. "These people wanted to make a statement."

A video-surveillance camera led police to the suspects.

Both men — who are known to police and whose names weren't released since the charges have yet to be sworn — are charged with mischief and breach of probation.

-Joe Belanger is a Free Press reporter.

London Free Press

My response to Chief Spagnoli

Dear Chief Spagnoli:

Thank you for your quick reply.

I am happy to hear that the Benicia Police Department is investigating this occurrence and not dismissing it as just another graffiti.

I must take issue with regard to your assertion that the crime did not occur on private property and, therefore, there is no protected victim. The incident in question involved numerous tags. I have attached a picture that shows that the fence of my neighbor, adjacent to the tag in question, was a victim of the incident (along with the City). In my humble opinion, the very nature of the tag stating "Arab Nigga" shows clear motivation by bias, and you have at least one protected victim by definition, my neighbor.

I suppose we could just ignore it but I don't believe that is the intent of the California Hate Crimes Code. These latest tags don't seem to be the work of just a bunch of bored kids with a spray can. This seems to be of a more serious nature. I don't think it should be ignored. Rather, it should be taken very seriously.

..Ross Sagun

10/14/2008

Hello Ross-

In answer to your question, the Benicia Police Department complies with the reporting requirements of Hate Crimes as defined by the penal code. Once we complete this investigation, the case will be classified appropriately. In this case, one important fact to support a hate crime classification is an intended victim or victims, since this is not on private property. Hate crimes occur when a suspect targets a protected victim, and the crime is motivated by bias.

DOJ is specific in their reporting guidelines in stating " specific facts need to be present that the offender's actions were motivated by bias" therefore connecting it to an intended target can assist in establishing the elements to this crime.

You may contact Lt. Bob Oettinger via email boettinger@ci.benicia.ca.us if you have further information to provide regarding this investigation or our policy on investigation hate crimes.

Sincerely,

Sandra Spagnoli

Is this a hate crime, and is it being treated as one?

As defined in California Penal Code section 13023, a hate crime is any criminal act or attempted criminal act motivated by hatred based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability. These crimes must be reported to the Department of Justice (DOJ) by law enforcement agencies. Information about bias-motivation, type of crime, location of crime, number of victims, and number of known suspects is included in each crime report.
- Office of the California Attorney General

Using web presence to thwart graffiti

Here is a great example of how one police department, the Glendale, AZ Police Department, uses the web to combat their graffiti problem. As you can see, they are making arrests. This effective strategy could easily be implemented by the City of Benicia. I hope the City considers developing something similar.

- Ross Sagun

City of Glendale - Police - Graffiti Busters Most Wanted
The Glendale Police Department is asking the residents of Glendale for assistance in preventing graffiti throughout the City as well as catching graffiti vandals. The following photos represent some of the existing graffiti incidents that the Police Department is currently pursuing. Do you recognize any of these tags? Do you have information on who is responsible? If so, please CLICK HERE and submit a tip online. If you are witnessing the graffiti being applied now, please contact the Glendale Police Department immediately at (623) 930-3000. Need to have graffiti removed? Click here to submit a removal request online.
	Suspect Arrested. Click here for more info.

Giving credit

Unfortunately, the graffiti vandals are back at work in our neighborhood (to the vandals: We will find you sooner or later).

There is, however, a lot of hope for solving our ongoing problem. Just look at how much progress has been made. Remember the what the tunnel looked like before? And the pathway? A lot of credit has to go to these folks:

* Mayor Patterson and the Benicia City Council for putting the focus on revising our outdated graffiti ordinance.

* The Benicia Police Department for their quick response to our calls and for their followup.

* The City of Benicia for quick removal of the graffiti and for maintaining the tunnel and pathway.

Things would be quite a bit different without their efforts and your advocacy. To all of you that have lent a hand or shown support, thank you for helping to protect and improve our neighborhood and our city.

..Ross Sagun

They are at it again!

After a couple of months of relatively no graffiti in and around the 3rd Street tunnel and pathway, the vandals returned today. I'm happy to report that the Benicia City Council is apparently working on revising our outdated and, frankly, weak graffiti ordinance. I hope they act swiftly. Here is what I had previously suggested:

What we need is an anti-graffiti/vandalism strategy that incorporates the following elements. This will require our City Council and departmental leadership to be proactive.

* a strengthened municipal code section
* consistent enforcement
* community-involved anti-graffiti groups
* city-provided graffiti abatement kits for victims
* a web presence outlining the City's strategy
* rewards for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of perpetrators
* an online and dedicated phone line reporting system
* making it known to the DA that we want vandalism prosecuted to the extent allowed by law
* an effective anti-vandalism PR campaign utilizing media and school resource officers

..Ross Sagun

Graffiti tied to shooting of Arkansas Democratic Chairman

Gwatney Shooting: Suspect Quits Job At Conway Target Before Shooting
Posted By: Robert Bell Posted By: Ashley Blackstone


Police have identified the suspect in the shooting of Democratic state party chairman Bill Gwatney as Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy. Today's THV has learned that Johnson had a run-in with his employer at Target.
Advertisement

Today's THV has learned from an anonymous source that worked with 50-year-old Timothy Dale Johnson at the Conway Target that Johnson's rage started around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Johnson's co-worker says graffiti laced with curse words concerning a hallway were found by management. The graffiti said, "This hall is too *** **** narrow."

Store managers called a meeting. We're told they asked if whoever wrote the graffiti to step forward and admit it and he or she wouldn't be fired. Our source says store management later found the same graffiti signed and dated by Johnson.

Over the next hour or so, Johnson's co-worker says he wrote on a door and another hallway again with objectionable words. "Target is run by dumb jocks and sorority *******."

A third graffiti was found on the human resources door saying, "sorority *******." Our source tells us that management talked with Johnson and then Johnson stormed off and left the building.

Conway police tell Today's THV they were called to Target around 8 a.m. about a disgruntled employee. When police arrived Johnson had already left.

The Conway police incident report says, "Johnson seemed to be extremely irate." The report confirms that Timothy Dale Johnson did write some graffiti on Target's wall. It goes on to say that "Johnson was no longer employed with Target and was not allowed access to the property."

Police tell Today's THV that Target employees were fearful Johnson was going to come back.

Target released the following statement Wednesday night. "In regards to the suspect, we can confirm he was an hourly employee at the Conway, Arkansas Target store since November 2006. He voluntarily quit his job earlier this morning. He had no history of behavioral or performance problems at Target. In the preceding days, he worked his regularly scheduled shifts without incident."

There is still no motive for the shooting.

Its been fun..thank you

The time has come for me to end the battle. Thank you to everyone that lent their support and encouragement. We made good progress...the 3rd Street tunnel and pathway are restored to their original beauty, and Riverview Park is once again being used by families for picnics. We now have regular patrols and security checks, which are much appreciated. I sincerely believe that there is a renewed focus by the City and all of us on the growing problem of graffiti, and vandalism in general, in our community. That is a very good thing. Our time and energy were not wasted.

I really do hope that the City of Benicia works toward strengthening the graffiti code and toward implementing an effective multimedia anti-graffiti/vandalism strategy as other cities have done. Those efforts will go a long way towards improving the quality of life for all of us in Benicia, which by the way, is already awesome.

My special thanks to the following people because absent their contributions we would have not gotten to first base.

Thank you Mayor Patterson for answering my calls and emails.

Thank you Chief Spagnoli for spending a significant amount of your valuable time on working with us. You promptly answered each and every one of my queries. Also, I thank you for putting together the neighborhood meeting.

Thank you to the officers of the Benicia Police Department for always quickly responding to our calls for assistance.

Thanks to Officer Fred Ayala for your great attitude and cooperative spirit.

Thank you to Councilman Ioakimedes for continuing a dialogue with us and pledging your support for our neighborhood and our city.

Thank you Roger Core for your efforts. The fact that virtually all graffiti has been abated is a tribute to your effectiveness.

Thank you Sara Stroud from the Vallejo Times Herald and also the Benicia Herald for helping to get the word out.

Thank you friends and neighbors for your continuing support and encouragement. A special thanks to those that gave, and continue to give, constructive guidance and counsel...you know who you are.

Finally, thank you to my wife, Cathy, for her enduring love and patience. Without her, everything would be meaningless.

Please know that I appreciate each and every one of you.

Its been fun...thank you.

- Ross Sagun

Councilman Ioakimedes responds

"Your post 7/21 meeting comments give me the impression that it was a good, frank, productive discussion. I can't disagree when you point out that there is still much to do, butI also feel as though some of the conversation has turned into a them vs. us (citizens vs. City of Benicia). I hope that is not the case, as your actions are proof that more is accomplished when we work together.

I believe that cities that are in constant review of local ordinances
stay on top of maintaining their quality of life issues. A quick look
at most any Benicia City Council agenda will show that Council, City
Staff, City Boards and Commissions, and our citizens in general are
always working toward updating and refining our local ordinances so that
they are effective in responding to today 's world. Again, your
actions and the City 's response are examples of that.

Please believe that graffiti and other related types of crimes will not
be placed on the back burner as long as I am on the Council. I just ask
that we are all mindful that we are all working towards the same goal."

- Mike Ioakimedes


We have heard precious little recently from our City Council about the graffiti and vandalism problem in Benicia. Thank you, Councilman Ioakimedes, for taking the time to address our concerns. I invite all of the members of Benicia's City Council to comment and show just how concerned they are about our concerns and preserving the quality of life in our city.

- Ross Sagun

Graffiti is a sign of government's failure to tend to basic housekeeping

"Graffiti delivers a message. It's a signal to other taggers; a deadly warning to rival gangs; a commentary on the kind of society in which youth earn respect from one another by vandalizing property.

The markings also tell visitors that a neighborhood is not cared for by the people who live there or the city workers who serve it. They are a statement about a city government's failure to tend to basic housekeeping. By the same token, quick removal of the scrawls puts residents and visitors on notice that the community is a place worth defending.

Amid the latest in a succession of graffiti spikes, Los Angeles residents have increasingly responded as soon as tagging appears by calling the city at 311 and reporting it. It takes too long for contractors to remove it -- three-to-five working days, long enough for taggers to broadcast their messages and take credit for their perverse handiwork. But residents at least have a safe way to respond." - Los Angeles Times

Glendale, AZ arrest shows the power of an effective anti-graffiti strategy

Here is a good example of how one city, Glendale, Arizona, effectively utilizes its anti-graffiti/vandalism strategy. Notice that it incorporates the following elements:

1. they have an anti-graffiti website
2. they offer a reward for useful tips
3. they work with prosecutors, asking for charges to be brought
4. they use the media and internet to publicize their successes

Benicia could learn from this city's successes.

- Ross Sagun

Glendale Police Nab Number 1 Graffiti Suspect

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Officers from a Glendale Police Neighborhood Response Squad located and arrested their “most wanted” graffiti vandal yesterday. They arrested him for drug possession charges, but plan to submit 14 cases of Criminal Damage against him for the graffiti incidents.

For several weeks, Officers Randy Stewart and William Keeble have trying to identify a graffiti vandal who uses the tagging name “Scar.” He was the foremost subject depicted on the department’s Graffiti Busters website (www.glendaleaz.com/police/GraffitiBustersMostWanted.cfm). “Scar” is responsible for at least 14 cases of vandalism causing thousands of dollars of damage to block walls, poles, signs and other property throughout north Glendale.

Officer Keeble recently got information that “Scar” is actually Henry Almeter (w/m 2/9/88), a 19 year-old Glendale resident. On December 12th, Officer Keeble went to Almeter’s house in the 7300 block of W. Villa Hermosa Avenue to serve a search warrant. He found Almeter leaving the house and detained him. Almeter was found to be in possession of both marijuana and cocaine and was arrested for those crimes. Officer Keeble then served the search warrant and located numerous items of evidence which link Almeter to graffiti vandalism, along with more illegal drugs. Officer Keeble is submitting 14 different cases of Criminal Damage against Almeter to prosecutors, asking that criminal charges be filed. Almeter will also have to answer for the drugs found on his person and in his residence.

Anyone with information about a graffiti vandal can call the TAG (Together Against Graffiti) Hotline at 602-262-7327. Tips leading to an arrest can qualify for rewards of up to $250.00.

City of Glendale - Police - Graffiti Busters Most Wanted The Glendale Police Department is asking the residents of Glendale for assistance in preventing graffiti throughout the City as well as catching graffiti vandals. The following photos represent some of the existing graffiti incidents that the Police Department is currently pursuing. Do you recognize any of these tags? Do you have information on who is responsible? If so, please CLICK HERE and submit a tip online. If you are witnessing the graffiti being applied now, please contact the Glendale Police Department immediately at (623) 930-3000. Need to have graffiti removed? Click here to submit a removal request online.

[Glendale Police Department]

One city that is getting it right

Police purchase graffiti cameras

By Staff Reports
(Created: Tuesday, August 5, 2008 10:13 AM CDT)
In response to a rash of recent vandalism involving graffiti, the Rowlett [Texas] Police Department has purchased high-tech cameras in hopes of catching the perpetrators and curtailing the problem, the Rowlett Police Department announced this week.

The device uses digital cameras and wireless technology to capture a photograph of the vandals in action. The camera emits a loud audible noise, warning the vandals that their photographs have just been taken. Detectives retrieve the photographs, identify the suspect, and use it in the prosecution.

Even though police say that less than 5 percent of the city’s graffiti is gang-related, it still represents a problem in terms of property values and economic development.

The city began to notice an increase in 2006 when 59 incidents were reports. So far this year, there have been at least 22 cases. The Highpoint Industrial Park is a popular spot for taggers, those who are typically responsible the vandalism.

Rowlett Police Chief Matt Walling said, “The police department and the city’s Economic Development Department met recently with local businesses in the Highpoint Industrial Park to share ideas and information to come up with a plan to reduce the number of graffiti offenses being committed. The “graffiti cameras” are one of the tools identified in the meetings to help combat the graffiti problem. The businesses will also become the “eyes and ears” of the police department by reporting suspicious activity when they observe it. This type of collaborative effort has been successful in cities all across America.”

The cameras, manufactured by Q-Star Technologies in Torrance Calif., are in use in numerous cities throughout the United States. Rowlett police say these cameras have been extremely successful in reducing graffiti, illegal dumping and other criminal activity. The cameras can be deployed rapidly and moved anywhere a problem is identified.

In the past the police have had to depend on catching the suspect in the act or informants to solve these crimes.

Rowlett police say the flexibility to deploy the cameras allow patrol officers to have more time to answer high priority calls.

As part of this new response to vandalism the Rowlett Police Department has launched a graffiti information page on its website at http://www.rowlett.com/Rowlett/Departments/Police/Graffiti_Landing.htm

report_taggers@rowlett.com has been setup for citizens to email detectives with tips on graffiti. Currently the city has an email hotline to report taggers and graffiti artists. The address is report_taggers@rowlett.com. Or they can police dispatch at 972-412-6200 option #1 to report crimes in progress.

The city also is working on other measures such as an abatement response and educational programs.l