11:36 a.m., June 9, 2009----The Downtown Newark Partnership (DNP), of which the University of Delaware is a member, has joined the Newark Police Department to battle graffiti vandalism in the community.

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Recently, there has been an increase in graffiti vandalism in the City's business district and on local bridges and overpasses. “For the past few months, it has become evident that graffiti is on the upswing,” said Newark Mayor Vance Funk III. “As someone living and doing business here, graffiti offends me by its lack of respect for the city, and other people's property. Graffiti is a war of the wills, and we are committed to fighting it with every resource we have.”

Newark has joined efforts with other city, county and state agencies in an Anti-Graffiti Task Force organized by Chief Liam Sullivan of the Elsmere Police Department.

Cpl. Jeffrey Schwagel of the Newark Police Department's Anti-Graffiti Task Force says the graffiti the city is experiencing is the result of graffiti vandals who feel their vandalism is public art and not symbolic of unsafe neighborhoods. The city, police department and Downtown Newark Partnership consider graffiti, or “tagging”, to be more than an eyesore.

“In a city like Newark, it creates a false perception of a blighted community where laws can be disregarded and gives the impression that the area is unsafe,” says Maureen Feeney-Roser, DNP administrator.

The DNP is providing a reward for the Newark Police Department to award if information provided to them leads to an arrest and conviction of a graffiti vandal in Newark.

Roser says, “Many businesses and property owners have been affected by graffiti along with public facilities such as parking meters, signage, and the murals located at the CSX bridge and abutments and the community bulletin board.”

Amendments to the city's graffiti ordinance passed at the City Council meeting on April 27, provide for tougher penalties for vandals by increasing penalties for tagging from $300 to $500, plus appropriate restitution. Community service hours were increased to 100 hours from the previous 30 hours. An addition to the ordinance allows for a fine of at least $500 for possession of graffiti implements.

Schwagel says that it is important to report graffiti to the police department for documentation purposes. Photographing the vandalism is one of the ways police keep track of who is doing the vandalizing. He emphasizes prompt removal after the graffiti has been documented.

Here's how to get involved:

• Report graffiti by call, text or e-mail;
• Keep up your neighborhood and encourage your neighbors to do the same;
• Remove graffiti promptly. Data shows that removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of recurrence; and
• Use graffiti resistant materials or coatings, or coatings which allow graffiti to be washed off.

Anyone with information about a graffiti incident should contact Schwagel at (302) 366-7110 ext. 406 or [jeffrey.schwagel@cj.state.de.us]. You can send an anonymous text message tip by texting 302NPD and your message to TIP411. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.