SPPD Graffiti Abatement Officer honored at GMSP
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: May 02, 2008
The Chamber of Commerce honored the city’s graffiti abatement officer at April’s Good Morning Santa Paula, and attendees were urged not to hesitate to report incidents of vandalism to help wipe out the problem.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
The Chamber of Commerce honored the city’s graffiti abatement officer at April’s Good Morning Santa Paula, and attendees were urged not to hesitate to report incidents of vandalism to help wipe out the problem. Hosted by the Debbie and Don Johnson and the Santa Paula Times, the Chamber-sponsored event was held at Logsdon’s at the Airport.
Scott McKeen, who tackles graffiti removal throughout the city, was honored as the Public Safety Officer of the Month. “We typically honor a police officer, but I decided to tweak the rules a little bit and bring in our graffiti abatement officer,” said Police Chief Steve MacKinnon.
Graffiti abatement is a natural part of community policing, and an offshoot of the broken window syndrome. “A few years ago when community policing first came out, Atlantic Monthly did an article” that showed that if a broken window were ignored in a vacant building, more vandalism would follow. The theory, said MacKinnon, is now so popular that it is used in law enforcement training.
“If you go into a neighborhood or community and spot a broken window, and if the neighborhood does not address it,” a message is sent that such acts of vandalism are acceptable, and “it only gets worse.” But, he noted, “If you do something about it sends a message” that the window will be fixed and that such actions are not tolerated.
McKeen was hired by the city four years ago, and is the “epitome of what community policing is all about... his work sends the message that we care,” that vandalism will not be tolerated. In fact, MacKinnon noted, “I think Scott has a nose better than our K-9s” when it comes to sniffing out and eradicating vandalism.
The SPPD is “very aggressive, we catch then when we can,” but ensuring that a neighborhood is graffiti free does “send a message.”
One GMSP attendee noted, “I would assume that because graffiti is removed we get less....” “No,” said McKeen, who urged community support in reporting graffiti by calling 921-1668.
Call 911 if graffiti is in progress: “Officers want to respond” to catch the vandals in the act, said MacKinnon. “We want to send a message... if it’s a juvenile we’ll take them to juvenile facilities. Now we’re getting indications that there are more and more penalties out there,” since cities have banded together on the issue and the District Attorney’s Office is recognizing that graffiti “translates into a larger problem.... I think judges are getting that message” and considering criminal histories when it comes to sentencing and fines. MacKinnon said that, typically, if the offender has no criminal record they receive a fine, probation, and must make restitution.
Santa Paula Chevrolet/John Macik provide the Chamber’s monthly award plaques.
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