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Graffiti cams haven't been picture of success

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 13, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.

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Four months ago, police and city officials announced with much fanfare that Denver would be the first in the nation to try out video surveillance cameras designed to catch graffiti vandals.

At the time, the president and chief executive of the company that developed the cutting-edge spyware said he was confident Denver would experience "significant cost savings" within 30 to 45 days of the cameras' deployment through arrests and restitutions.

So much for all the hoopla.

Despite a spike in graffiti complaints to City Council members, the cameras haven't led to a single arrest.

"The graffiti taggers didn't go in the area where the cameras were deployed," police Sgt. Ernie Martinez said.

The cameras, which trigger a police alert when they detect the spraying of graffiti, have been used "just a couple of times" over the last month and a half, he said.

The absence of arrests doesn't mean the cameras are ineffective, said Mark White, senior vice president of technical operations for Law Enforcement Associates, which developed the devices.

"The fact that (police) still have them, they're still using them, trying to maximize their effectiveness, indicates to me that Denver believes there's value to this tool," he said.

Regina Huerter, executive director of the Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission, sees the cameras' potential, saying they are part of a larger effort to combat graffiti.

"I think they will be very, very effective for us, but it's as a tool. It's not going to be the end-all," she said. "And we're learning how to use them. We're deploying eight of those things, so it's a lot of training and a lot of logistics of how you bring up that kind of system."

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

Targeting taggers

Denver removed almost twice as much graffiti in the first nine weeks of 2008 as in the same period last year.

Graffiti removed (square feet):

* 2007 349,561*

* 2008 640,396

* City officials say back-to-back snowstorms may have contributed to less graffiti.

Source: Denver Public Works

Comments

  • March 14, 2008

    8:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dhakala writes:

    The cameras SHOULD be big and obvious, to deter taggers! The idea is to stop graffiti, not just arrest taggers. Cameras should be as obvious as a foot patrol officer, but cheaper.

  • March 14, 2008

    8:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Theoldguy writes:

    I wish I'd have been the salesman on that deal. I'd be retired AND on a beach somewhere.

  • March 14, 2008

    9:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    CWW writes:

    Idea: put up a bunch of obtrusive, big FAKE cameras all over the place. That would be a lot cheaper, but I suppose the city doesn't care how much $$ it spends.

  • March 14, 2008

    10:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    soccer_mama writes:

    I think as a property owner you should be able to do whatever it takes to stop these idiots from tagging your prop.
    My husband thinks you should be able to place a bunch of nails all over your yard (by fences/garages/walls) and if they step on them and a nail goes through their foot, maybe they will learn to stay away. What are they going to tell the cops, I was going to tag this persons house and I stepped on this nail?
    Idiot kids, I like the movie "colors" where Sean Penn sprays a can of spray paint in the kids face!
    Whatever it takes!

  • March 14, 2008

    11:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Theoldguy writes:

    soccer_mama

    You can't set a trap for a human. That kind of fun has been illegal for a long time.

  • March 14, 2008

    2:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    How about taking these kids and making them paint and clean every property they tag.If that does not work then take the things they own and spray paint on them.Maybe this could solve the problem,if not how about putting the parents on the hook.If your kid commits certain crimes you will have to fix it out of your pocket.If that does not work, how about the parents spending a little quality time in jail.If that does not work let the victim come over to the offenders home and spray paint the words vandals on it.Now these are some suggestion.Also the nail on your property might hurt some unwitting person.These are some ideas that might curtail this problem.To the parents of the offenders keep your kids at home and knock off the anti social attitude towards society.The other thing a lot of people have problems,but they don't go out and take it out on people.Also to the parents of these kids,your village called and its idiots are missing