17 Salem-Keizer Schools Tagged With Graffiti Over The Weekend

In June, 65-hundred square feet of property in Salem had graffiti removed, of which 63 percent of it was done by gangs.

An earlier graffiti case in South Salem Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - Graffiti, a symbol of pride for gangs, an eye sore and a headache for the rest of us, is popping up all over Salem, Keizer and Marion County.

Schools, businesses, wood fences, county and city road signs, and park buildings, nothing so far this year is safe from taggers.

Salem Police Graffiti Officer Kim Nelson says most of the tagging comes from local gang members, who are trying to send a message either to a rival gang or to a particular individual.

Over the weekend, 17 Salem-Keizer schools were tagged with graffiti. Taggers this weekend spray painted the schools with gang, and profanity laced messages.

At Waldo Middle School, pornographic, and threatening messages directed at Waldo school staff was found.

Nelson says by the end of the year, graffiti will have been removed from well over 60,000 square feet of property in Salem.

For far in 2006, over 40,000 square feet of property in Salem has had graffiti removed.

The Salem Parks Department has spent nearly $3,000 on graffiti removal.

The Salem-Keizer School District turns in all of the money spent on vandalism to their insurance carrier.

To report graffiti in your neighborhood call the Salem Police Department Graffiti Tip Line at (503) 371-4264.

Make sure to leave your name, telephone number, and the location and description of the graffiti.