Police and Neighbors Work to Remove Graffiti (Except in Chicago)

Baltimore Police Department, MD

The Baltimore Police Department and Access Art, a local youth art center, teamed up on the "Mural Project," a creative outlet for Baltimore City youth that discourages tagging in favor of public displays of positive community images. The premise is that to change attitudes and behaviors, young people must participate in their neighborhoods. Following 50 hours of professional art instruction and education to promote civic responsibility, the youth conceived and created a 25-foot by 75-foot paint brush mural showing residents in different stages of community involvement. Youth who would otherwise be involved in graffiti vandalism became advocates for cleaning up the neighborhood and acting as role models for other youth. In 2003, Baltimore City painted over 500,000 square feet of graffiti at a cost of $350,000.

Reno Police Department, NV

To respond to a growing population and an increasing number of graffiti tags-1,085 in a six block radius-in 2003, the Reno Police Department developed a "Graffiti Removal Kit" to help residents and business remove graffiti promptly. The result of this program is a 20% reduction in graffiti. During the first six months of 2003, there were 1650 graffiti sites. In the same time period in 2004, that number was 916.

The kit includes a 3-ounce can of graffiti removal solution, a sponge, a steel wool pad, goggles, plastic gloves, a dust mask, and paper towels contained in a can to mix the removal solution. For an initial pilot program, 100 kits were provided at no charge to community members, but now cost $10 each-a cost reflecting donated and discounted materials. Information about the in-demand kits was distributed through the City of Reno's seven Neighborhood Advisory Boards.

Prince William Clean Community Council, VA

The Prince William Clean Community Council (PWCCC), a nonprofit funded through donations, in-kind services, and government grants, has set up a Graffiti Removal Reward Program to assist victims of graffiti. Property owners that have been vandalized receive a $25 Removal Reward and a first time removal of graffiti when they report the graffiti to police and promise to remove any future graffiti within 72 hours.

Once the police receive the report, the PWCCC offers assistance and solutions, including the use of volunteers for cleanup, discounted paints, and some removal products. They also have a Graffiti Victim Liaison Program. A liaison assigned to each victim of graffiti vandalism helps them manage rapid cleanup and provides guidance on preventing future graffiti.

The PWCCC has also established Talk About Graffiti, a program for graffiti offenders assigned to community service by the courts. It includes a two-hour in-class graffiti education curriculum and two graffiti removal activities. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to participate.

Looking Good Santa Barbara, CA

In July 2003, Looking Good Santa Barbara (LGSB) collaborated with the City to launch a coordinated anti-graffiti effort. Through this initiative, they established an anti-graffiti ordinance, kicked-off an Adopt-a-Block program, started ongoing youth education, and, in conjunction with the Police Department, conducted a graffiti survey, estimating 5,000-7,000 tags. Program partners include the Kids that Care Clean-Up Program, the City Streets Division, and the Santa Barbara Downtown Association.

Their first project was the Anapamu pedestrian bridge, neglected and plagued by graffiti vandalism. Over 350 volunteers, including City staff, LGSB, Calvary Chapel members (donating over 1,000 hours of volunteer time) and neighbors transformed the bridge in one day, picking up litter, removing graffiti, and replanting landscape. In coordination with the cleanup, the Police Department staged a "sting" operation and arrested five taggers.

The Police Department has also partnered with LGSB to provide funding for every local school and library in Santa Barbara to receive a copy of Graffiti in Tahiti along with graffiti education teaching plans. To kick off the initiative, the Mayor, Chief of Police, and police officers read the book to students at local schools.

Church of Glad Tidings, Live Oak, CA

The Church of Glad Tidings engaged two sheriffs departments, two police departments, and the highway patrol to set up a program for rapid removal of graffiti in Yuba and Sutter counties in Northern California. Since the program started in 2001, 250 sites have been painted over using 680 volunteer hours.

Here's how it works. The Church educated law enforcement about graffiti vandalism and the need to remove it rapidly, installing "zero tolerance graffiti buster" posters in all agency briefing rooms. Officers on patrol call in graffiti locations to the dispatcher. The dispatcher completes a notification fax and sends it to the church, spelling out the location of the graffiti, requesting agency, and officer's name. With donated supplies and volunteers, the Church sends out cleanup teams each Saturday. Source.

Chicago Police Department. Chicago, Illinois.

Neighbors follow the 5 step CAPS program.
Step 1: Identify and Prioritize the Problem: Gang graffiti that glorified the stabbing death of a gang-banger.

Step 2: Analyze the Problem: The gang tribute grew larger by the day.

Step 3: Design Strategies: Seeing the CTA refused to notice or remove the gang memorial that was under their frekin' noses for 2 weeks, the annoyed neighbors decided to remove the graffiti themselves - because the inattentive CTA workers wouldn't do it.

Step 4: Implement Strategies: At no cost to the tax-payers, neighbors brought paint, rollers, brushes and cleaning supplies to paint over and clean-up the gang graffiti. Neighbors asked the police for back-up coverage in case the roving violent kid gangs who memorialize this eye-sore came by to confront our beatification project for the neighborhood.

Step 5: Evaluate and Acknowledge Success: Threatened to be arrested if we removed the gang graffiti. Mental note to self. Don't involve the police next time.