COPS shops want to know about graffiti

It shows up on fence lines, in alleys, on garages and empty buildings – colorful swatches of spray-painted letters.

They may read “omt” or “wow,” but graffiti is rarely harmless mischief done by kids with too much time on their hands.

“Graffiti is the newspaper of the street. It’s how gang members get their message across,” said Bud Hull, president of the Community Oriented Policing Services.

COPS shops across the city are helping community members report and control graffiti.

Lynn Weiler, a volunteer at COPS Northeast, said each substation usually has a graffiti team. It’s important for residents to report graffiti immediately, she said.

Left unreported, it can solidify a gang’s presence in an area.

Once a substation is notified about graffiti, COPS will send out a volunteer to photograph it. Steve Atkins, president of COPS Northwest, stressed the importance of taking a picture before removing the graffiti.

“Graffiti done by gang members means something,” he said. The photos are sent to the Police Department, to help law enforcement keep track of gang movement and activity.

According to Weiler, gang members have individual signatures that police officers can recognize. If the evidence is painted over, authorities have no way of knowing whether it was genuine gang activity.

Once the graffiti has been photographed, COPS volunteers assess the damage and contact property owners. Property owners are sent a notice that says, “You’ve been tagged” and are given a copy of the city ordinance regarding graffiti.

The city ordinance gives property owners 10 days to remove the graffiti.

“If graffiti is not removed, it encourages and attracts more graffiti,” said Hull.

If a property owner is elderly or disabled, and removing the graffiti is a hardship, COPS shops can help. At COPS Northeast, local paint stores donate paint, and civic organizations like church groups or Boy Scouts, volunteer to remove graffiti when needed.

Graffiti occurrences vary by neighborhood.

Hull at COPS Southeast fields five to six reports a month, while Weiler at COPS Northeast handles 20 to 40 reports.

COPS volunteers agree that most citizens are eager to take care of graffiti and remove it promptly.

However, “No matter how disgusting or offensive the graffiti, it’s very important to report it before removing it,” said Hull.

The COPS program is always looking for volunteers. For more information about volunteering, contact the substation where you wish to volunteer.