The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Police in Oklahoma City hope a graffiti-removal program leads to a reduction in gang violence across the city.
Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City started a program four years ago with federal grant, but the funds have dwindled over the years.
A desire to attack the gang problem in every way possible led the police department to get involved, said police Lt. Jay Freeman.
The police department teamed with five other city and community groups to create the program, which has had three to six people painting over graffiti every day for the last three weeks.
Already, 62 gallons of paint has been used to cover gang graffiti at about 45 locations in central Oklahoma City.
Graffiti is often used to designate a gang’s territory, it’s affiliation or members. When members of one gang deface a rival gang’s graffiti, it perpetuates the cycle of violence and vandalism.
Tagging graffiti usually shows the offender’s name or autograph and is used to gain fame among other gang members. “Speedy cleanup makes a repeat offense less likely as offenders will grow tired of wasting paint and time when no one can see the tag for more than a day or two,” said police Capt. Jeff Becker.
Another advantage to quick removal is that offenders believe they are being closely watched and at greater risk of being caught, Becker said.
“Tagging is a way gangs communicate with each other,” he said. “We want to do everything we can to disrupt gang activity.”
Some of the paint used for the program comes from the city’s household waste hazardous waste facility. Public works employees store the usable paint and supplies for the program, Becker said.
The Office of Weed and Seed at the Rominger Center keeps track of community service defendants ordered to participate in the graffiti-removal program. The director volunteered one of his employees to use a city van to drive the workers.