Laredo Highline Neighborhood Association

Help Police Stop Graffiti

Oct 03, 2007

The Aurora Police Department's Graffiti Off Neighborhoods unit - or GON - devotes its time to removing graffiti on some of the city's private properties. Once it has been reported to the department's hotline, the two civilian staff members can usually remove it it within 24 to 48 hours. Inclement weather can sometimes delay the efforts because the power washers and paint applicators do not work effectively in wind, snow and cold.

Lt. Michael Schultz, who supervises the unit, said graffiti typically falls into one of two categories; "tagging" and gang-related. Taggers strive to be artistic while gang-related graffiti simply marks-out gang "turf".

While the city will remove graffiti from city property and in residential areas visible from the street, business owners are responsible for removing it from their properties.

The best thing residents can do to help fight neighborhood graffiti is to take a pro-active role by reporting graffiti whenever they see it. Reports to GON are forwarded to the city's gang unit, as well as PAR and school resource officers, in an effort to help track graffiti trends.

To report existing graffiti, call 303-739-6063. Residents who witness someone in the act of spraying graffiti should call 911.