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Southern Nevada Southern Nevada

Graffiti Coalition Graffiti Coalition The Quarterly Publication of Southern Nevada’s The Quarterly Publication of Southern Nevada’s

Only Official Public Graffiti Fighting AllianceOnly Official Public Graffiti Fighting Alliance Spring 2012Spring 2012

GRAFFITI FREE LAS VEGASGRAFFITI FREE LAS VEGAS

The Las Vegas Graffiti InitiativeThe Las Vegas Graffiti Initiative

The City of Las Vegas in partnership with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

Department is planning a new, multi-pronged plan of action to combat our

communities most costly property crime: graffiti vandalism.

The mission statement of the Graffiti Free Las Vegas initiative is “to

dramatically reduce graffiti vandalism in Las Vegas through documenta-

tion, abatement, enforcement and prevention.” By utilizing these elements

Las Vegas and LVMPD officials will partner with local citizens and

businesses to take an “all of the above approach” in combating graffiti

vandalism in our community.

The concept of the Graffiti Free Las Vegas initiative is simple. Available

resources will be efficiently utilized to target our most graffiti ridden

neighborhoods. The graffiti will be documented and used to arrest graffiti

vandals and aid in criminal prosecutions. The graffiti will be abated by Las

Vegas Rapid Response personnel and crews from the LVMPD Graffiti Abate-

ment and Investigation Program. Steps will then be taken to provide

neighborhoods with the tools they need to maintain their neighborhoods.

Educational information will be provided to Las Vegas children so they will

understand the seriousness of graffiti related crimes and local businesses

will learn how to prevent graffiti through compliance with local anti-graffiti

ordinances.

The Graffiti Free Las Vegas initiative will set the standard for a united

community approach to fighting graffiti vandalism. In the coming months

Las Vegas residents will see the progress of this effort in improved neighbor-

hood pride, increased awareness about graffiti, and a safer and more

beautiful Las Vegas.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Spring 2012 Page 2

The Nevada Energy Graffiti Hotline A prime target of graffiti vandals is utility boxes and poles. This is because utility boxes and poles

are prevalent throughout our community and are located in every neighborhood. They are viewed as

ready-made canvases by graffiti vandals.

In response to this fact Nevada Energy has established a graffiti hotline. Citizens and businesses are

invited and encouraged to call the NV Energy graffiti hotline and report graffiti vandalism to NV

Energy power boxes and poles.

It is important for neighborhoods to maintain a graffiti free environment if they want to manage

crime in their area and protect their property values.

To report graffiti to an

NV Energy power box or

pole call the NV Energy

Graffiti Hotline at

402-2021

CAUTION: Do not attempt to repair or

repaint utility boxes or equipment yourself!

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Spring 2012 Page 3

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 can call or submit a tip online

to CRIME STOPPERS at (702) 385-5555 or

www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

Tips leading to a felony arrest or an indictment processed

through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash award.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Spring 2012 Page 4

On March 22nd 2012 James Q. Wilson died. Mr.

Wilson was a university professor, authority on

public administration and co-author of the 1982

article which introduced the “Broken Windows

Theory.”

The Broken Windows Theory is a concept that states

in general that addressing common problems, such

as graffiti vandalism, will ultimately result in

reduced overall crime and improved quality of life

within a community.

The Broken Windows Theory proved successful in

Boston and New York in the 1980’s and 1990’s and is

credited with dramatically reducing crime in those

cities. It has been implemented for the past 20 years

in Southern Nevada in the form of “community

oriented policing.”

Mr. Wilson's pioneering work has left an indelible

mark on law enforcement and public administration

in America.

“Broken Windows Theory” Pioneer Dies“Broken Windows Theory” Pioneer Dies

The LVMPD GRAFFITI ABATEMENT & INVESTIGATION PROGRAM The LVMPD GRAFFITI ABATEMENT & INVESTIGATION PROGRAM The LVMPD GRAFFITI ABATEMENT & INVESTIGATION PROGRAM The LVMPD GRAFFITI ABATEMENT & INVESTIGATION PROGRAM

Under the direct supervision of LVMPD Detention Services Division officers inmates housed at the

Clark County Detention Center have continued to removed graffiti throughout Southern Nevada.

Each month hundreds of locations in our community are repaired by the abatement crews. This is an

efficient and cost effective means of containing graffiti proliferation in the Las Vegas area.

The LVMPD GRAFFITI

ABATEMENT &

INVESTIGATION

PROGRAM has become

a valuable asset in

Southern Nevada’s

fight against graffiti

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Spring 2012 Page 5

Neighborhood Murals: Are they a good thing?

In recent months several new neighborhood murals have gone up throughout the Las Vegas area. In

some cases the neighborhood residents have embraced these murals. However in other cases the

murals have resulted in outrage and protests by the home owners who reside in the area.

In one recent case a large mural was legally placed at E. Flamingo Rd. and Annie Oakley. This mural

resulted in residents who reside on both sides of the street contacting the police and other public

agencies to complain. Local news stations were also contacted and ran stories about the outcry that

the mural caused. The residents stated that the mural made the neighborhood look like “a ghetto”

and would result increased crime and reduced property values. As a result of this outcry the mural

was removed and the wall was restored to it’s original condition.

Murals, or “legal walls” as graffiti vandals call them can have a positive impact on a neighborhood,

but only so long as the neighborhood agrees to maintain it.

It must also be understood that legal murals will not reduce illegal graffiti vandalism. This is

because graffiti vandals have no interest in legal pieces of art. Their interests are in the defacement of

property, not creating art.

Flamingo & Annie Oakley

The Restored Wall

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Spring 2012 Page 6

Southern Nevada Graffiti CoalitionSouthern Nevada Graffiti Coalition

Det. Scott Black (LVMPD), DirectorDet. Scott Black (LVMPD), Director

The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition is on:The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition is on:

GRAFFITI FACT: GRAFFITI FACT: Las Vegas is a Graffiti DestinationLas Vegas is a Graffiti Destination Las Vegas is one of the busiest tourists destinations in the world. It is also a destination that is

frequented by graffiti vandals who reside in other states and countries.

It is well known that the tourist corridors of the Las Vegas Strip and the Fremont Street Experience

are targeting by local graffiti vandals. But many people do not realize that graffiti vandals who do not

reside here also target these areas. This is because Las Vegas is a famous location in which vandals

can place their graffiti and photograph it as a trophy. Many graffiti vandals desire to place their

graffiti in various locations other than their hometown. This gives them increased credibility in the

graffiti world.

Some graffiti

vandals tag

across America

and the world in

an effort to gain

status, or

“fame” in the

graffiti world.