Graffiti Reduction Unit |
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Contact:
Officer Steve Olson
(920) 322-3746
Graffiti is not minor mischief, a prank or innocent artistic expression. Any placement of graffiti on another person's property without their consent is vandalism, plain and simple, and it's a crime.
Millions of dollars of damage is done in this country each year by vandals with spray paint cans, indelible markers, lipstick and numerous other items that they use to make their mark.
Many studies have been done on this subject and one point they same to agree on is that graffiti should be removed or covered as soon as it is discovered and reported to police.
If you don't remove or cover graffiti it can attract gangs and/or cause graffiti to spread to adjacent areas. An area where graffiti is tolerated and allowed to flourish shows a lack of pride in that neighborhood and this can encourage criminal activities to occur there.
The City of Fond du Lac enacted an anti-graffiti ordinance in 1994. From a police standpoint, the ordinance has been very successful. Officer Jeff Klintworth has been assigned to head up enforcement of the graffiti ordinance.
When police officers or property owners report acts of graffiti vandalism, Officer Gill makes an on-site investigation. Officer Gill then will send the properly owner a letter explaining the graffiti ordinance and the need to remove or cover up the graffiti.
Officer Gill advised that in 1994 86 warning letters were sent by Officer Harbridge. Officer Harbridge needed to follow-up on only 20 out of the 86 letters sent out. Only two property owners that were contacted had a negative opinion of the program. All 86 sites were cleaned-up. There have only been about five locations were graffiti has reappeared since the cleanup.
Officer Gill said that in 1995 the statistics were very encouraging. He said that 25 letters were sent out and only 2 follow-ups were needed. In 1996 even less letters had to be sent out. Only 19 letters were made to property owners. There are of course many factors that could explain the reduction in graffiti from 1994 to 1996, but the graffiti reduction program appears to have a major plus impact.
Officer Gill said that the overall response from property owners has been very good. The general public has also been supportive because it makes a big difference on the positive appearance of the City. Officer Gill has also working with the Fond du Lac County Juvenile Services to have juvenile offenders who have been ordered to do community service work assist owners with cleanup even though the juvenile was not responsible for the vandalism.
It takes a community wide approach to clean up and stop graffiti vandalism. Property owners, government, educational institutions, courts, and police need to organize, set goals, enact ordinances, strictly enforce laws, and educate offenders. Graffiti vandalism will never be completely wiped out, but when a message is sent that this city will not tolerate graffiti and gang activity, reductions in graffiti incidents can be achieved.
Officer Gill and the Fond du Lac City Police Community Services Unit have developed a free brochure that lists some hints for cleanup of graffiti and ways to make additional cleanups easier. If you have any questions regarding the Graffiti Reduction Unit, please contact Officer Rich Woodruff or the Community Services Unit at (920) 322-3745