Southern Nevada Southern Nevada Graffiti CoalitionGraffiti Coalition

M a y ~ J u n e , 2 0 1 1M a y ~ J u n e , 2 0 1 1

South

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South

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st Graffiti Vandalism

GRAFFITI FREE NEVADA MONTH 2011: GRAFFITI FREE NEVADA MONTH 2011:

A GREAT SUCCESS!A GREAT SUCCESS! Another successful Graffiti Free Nevada Month has wrapped up. Numerous community

graffiti clean-up projects occurred and several stories on graffiti vandalism were profiled in

our local media. The goal of Graffiti Free Nevada Month is increased awareness in our

community about the problem of graffiti vandalism. This results in our citizens getting

involved in the fight against graffiti. With that in mind it is clear that Graffiti Free Nevada

Month 2011 was a huge success.

The highlight of this years Graffiti Free Nevada Month was the 4th annual DARE

Anti-Graffiti Art Contest. Again the Regional Transportation Commission and Vector Media

stepped up and provided the bus and graphics to make this years event the best yet. The

winner of the 2011 contest was Krista Kachnik and the runner-up was Fermin Perez. Their

art work is now displayed in full bus sized graphics on an RTC public bus.

We look forward to continuing this great annual event in the years to come. It is great way to

work with our communities youth with a focus on graffiti awareness and prevention.

Our sincere thanks goes to the Regional Transportation Commission

and Vector Media for their continued support of this great program!

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 2

The LVMPD Graffiti Abatement The LVMPD Graffiti Abatement

& Investigation Program& Investigation Program The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department ‘s Detention Services Division and Graffiti

Investigations Section has continued to implement the LVMPD Graffiti Abatement & Investigation

Program.

This program continues to be a cost effective means of removing graffiti in our community and

aiding in the arrest and prosecution of graffiti vandals.

Graffiti vandalism is the most costly property crime in the greater Las Vegas area and a top

compliant of our citizens to the police and local elected officials. This program has been effective in

offsetting recent cuts in graffiti abatement by the city and county. It has also aided in numerous

investigations of local graffiti vandals and tag crews.

More than 10,000 hours

of community service

have been provided

by CCDC inmates

removing graffiti

vandalism in

Southern Nevada!

More than 2,200

locations defaced by

graffiti vandals in our

community have been

abated and restored

by this program

so far in 2011!

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 3

The LVMPD Graffiti

Abatement & Investigation

Program has been proven

to be a benefit to our citizens,

local law enforcement officers,

and even the inmates

involved. It is a cost

effective means of

fighting graffiti in

Southern Nevada!

Many of the inmates

who work on the graffiti

abatement crews are

convicted graffiti vandals

who are now serving their

jail sentences removing

graffiti in our community!

Prior to abatement, all the

graffiti vandalism noted by the

inmate crews is documented

and photographed. The

information is then

investigated by LVMPD

Graffiti Investigations Section

detectives. To date numerous

cases have been closed or

enhanced, including the recent

Red Rock Canyon case!

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 4

FaceBook® and Twitter are the largest and most widely used internet social networking tools in the world. The

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the City of Las Vegas, Clark County and many other

organizations involved in the enforcement and abatement of graffiti vandalism are on FaceBook® and Twitter.

These organizations use these them as an effective means for the distribution of information to the community.

As part of the growing effort to coordinate anti-graffiti activities the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition now

maintains a FaceBook® page which is linked to Twitter. The latest news and information related to local anti-

graffiti events and programs will be posted so you can have the latest information related to the SNGC and our

communities commitment to fighting graffiti vandalism.

Check out the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition on FaceBook® and Twitter!

County Code Enforcement

Chief Joe Boteilho Retires

After more than 30 years of dedicated

and honorable service to the citizens of

Clark County, Code Enforcement Chief

Joe Boteilho has retired. Joe has been

a key player in our combined efforts in

fighting graffiti in Southern Nevada.

He has aided in our efforts in passing

new anti-graffiti legislation and is

responsible for many successful

programs that have enhanced our

anti-graffiti efforts. His service and

leadership will be missed.

The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION The SOUTHERN NEVADA GRAFFITI COALITION

is now on FaceBookis now on FaceBookis now on FaceBookis now on FaceBookis now on FaceBookis now on FaceBookis now on FaceBookis now on FaceBook® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® and and and and and and and and TwitterTwitterTwitterTwitterTwitterTwitterTwitterTwitter

Congratulations Joe,

Enjoy your retirement!

Graffiti Incidents Continue

at Red Rock Canyon

After the recent high profile graffiti case at Red

Rock Canyon National Conservation Area we would

like to think graffiti vandals would get the message

that Red Rock Canyon is off limits to graffiti

vandalism.

Unfortunately some additional complaints of

graffiti there have been received. These cases are

documented and investigated with the offenders

facing federal charges for damaging protected

federal lands.

If you observe graffiti vandals in the act or wish to

report graffiti vandalism at Red Rock Canyon

contact the park dispatcher at 293-8998.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 5

GRAFFITI GUIDE

To Report a Graffiti Vandal in Progress:

Call 911. Do not approach the vandal.

Be a good witness for responding officers.

Assist the officers with information if/when requested once the vandal is in custody.

To Request Graffiti Removal on Public Property:

Call the Southern Nevada Graffiti Hotline at 455-4509.

For Graffiti Removal on Non-Public Property:

For graffiti on utility boxes you can contact the company which owns the box.

For your safety do not attempt to remove graffiti from these boxes yourself.

Graffiti removal on private property is the responsibility of the property owner.

If an arrest is made the owner may receive full restitution as ordered by the court.

If the graffiti is on property managed by a home owner's association the HOA is respon-

sible for removal of the graffiti. The HOA must also make the police report.

To Receive Free Graffiti Removal Supplies for your Neighborhood:

Contact the county or city where you reside. Often these supplies can be provided if you

and your neighbors are able and willing to remove graffiti in your neighborhood.

To Have a Police Report made:

Stop by your nearest police station.

You must own the property to complete a police report.

When a report is made a detective will be assigned the case for investigation.

To Report a Known Graffiti Vandal:

Contact your local police department.

To remain anonymous you may call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

(You may be eligible for a cash award if an arrest is

made and the damage exceeds $5,000.00)

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 6

DARE AntiDARE Anti--Graffiti Art Contest Graffiti Art Contest

Recognized by the City of Las VegasRecognized by the City of Las Vegas

For the fourth consecutive year the DARE Anti-Graffiti Art Contest was successfully held at the

Regional Transportation Commission. This program highlights our communities commitment to

fighting graffiti vandalism through education and public awareness.

The winning artists along with those who implement and supported the program were invited to

appear before Mayor Oscar Goodman and the Las Vegas City Council on April 6th to be recognized

for the continued success of this program.

The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition sincerely thanks the Regional Transportation

Commission, Vector Media, the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, the Clark County

School District and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for their

ongoing commitment to fighting graffiti in Southern Nevada!

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 7

Senate Bill 257: Nevada’s Graffiti Senate Bill 257: Nevada’s Graffiti

Law may be getting TougherLaw may be getting Tougher

Nevada Senator Valerie Wiener has sponsored Nevada Senate Bill 257. This bill increases penalties to

Nevada’s already effective graffiti law, NRS 206.330. This comes on the heels of one of our states most

offensive and costly graffiti cases which occurred recently at Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas.

Senate Bill 257 will make graffiti vandalism to any Nevada historical site a Class C Felony crime. In addition

the bill will mandate jail time to convicted graffiti vandals who are given probation, allow for increased civil

penalties against the vandal, and will mandate that juvenile offender’s parents take a more active part in the

juvenile’s corrective measures.

Senate Bill 257 increases the penalties that can be assessed against convicted graffiti vandals and

we support that! Senator Wiener’s leadership on this issue is greatly appreciated. For more

information about Senate Bill 257 and our states current legislative session please visit their

website at: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/.

Metro and the Community Partner in Northeast Las Vegas

Crime Prevention and Community Oriented Policing personnel from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

Department’s Northeast Area Command joined forces with area citizens on a graffiti removal project in

northeast Las Vegas recently. This area has been hit hard by graffiti vandals and this project sent a strong

message to the vandals responsible that the neighborhood is being reclaimed by the citizens. It is projects like

this that are most effective in fighting neighborhood graffiti. Graffiti removal will always be the cornerstone of

effective graffiti management and when citizens partner with their police department it effectively sets a

precedence that our neighborhoods belong to us and we will fight to protect them.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 8

Commissioner Susan Brager and Community Commissioner Susan Brager and Community

Youth Remove Graffiti Along 95Youth Remove Graffiti Along 95 As part of Graffiti Free Nevada Month a youth group teamed up with Clark County Commissioner Susan

Brager to remove graffiti on US 95 between Wyoming Ave. and Charleston Blvd. This area is a common

meeting place for area graffiti vandals and the group worked throughout the morning to remove all of the

unsightly graffiti that covered the walls in the area.

Commissioner Brager and other local leaders have been on the forefront of Southern Nevada’s commitment to

fighting graffiti vandalism. Numerous other clean-ups occurred and has resulted in the removal of graffiti

vandalism that has been a blight to the area for months. Our Thanks and

Appreciation

goes to all of the

Clark County

Commissioners

for their

continued

Support and

Dedication to

Fighting Graffiti

in Southern

Nevada

Photos courtesy of The Las Vegas Sun

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 9

For more information about the

Friends of Red Rock Canyon go to:

www.friendsofredrockcanyon.org/

Grant Sawyer Middle School Students Raise Grant Sawyer Middle School Students Raise

Money to Help with Red Rock Canyon Repair Money to Help with Red Rock Canyon Repair

The recent graffiti vandalism to the Native American pictographs and petro glyphs at Red Rock Canyon

have resulted in the community uniting to help repair the damage and prevent graffiti vandalism. As

part of this effort the students of Grant Sawyer Middle School with their faculty advisor Lynn Zepeda

organized a fund raiser to help raise money for repairs. The money was then presented to the Friends of

Red Rock Canyon.

Mark Beauchamp, president of the Friends of Red Rock Canyon stated that the student’s hard work

and commitment will help the organization’s work in protecting Red Rock Canyon for future

generations.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation goes to the students and faculty at Grant Sawyer for serving as an

example of our communities commitment to fighting graffiti vandalism.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, May ~ June 2011 Page 10

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition

Det. Scott Black (LVMPD), Director

GRAFFITI VANDALISM FACTGRAFFITI VANDALISM FACT

from thisfrom this

to thisto this

Management of Graffiti Vandalism Reduces CrimeManagement of Graffiti Vandalism Reduces Crime

Controlling graffiti vandalism is an effective way to reduce the overall impact of crime on a

community. Studies clearly reveal that effective management of crimes such as graffiti

vandalism result in reduced overall crime in a community.

In the 1980’s New York City implemented “The Broken Windows Theory” and in the 1990’s

intensified it’s implementation. This was done in an effort to reduce serious and violent

crime and make NYC a safer community to live in and visit. The focus was on increased

enforcement on a group of crimes which included illegal graffiti vandalism. This is because

it was believed that a graffiti-riddled community was conducive to criminal activity while a

graffiti-free community promoted community pride and less tolerance for criminal activity.

The result was a dramatic and lasting decrease in the overall crime profile of NYC.

The Broken Windows Theory

was introduced in 1982 by

George L. Kelling and first

implemented by the

New York City Transit Authority

in 1985 with a focus on

graffiti vandalism.

“It worked because we not only got a

big reduction in that (street level

crime including graffiti), and an

improvement in the quality of life,

but massive reductions in homicide,

and New York City turned from the

crime capitol of America to the safest

large city in the country.”

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani