City gets grant to fight gang graffiti
9:30 PM
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, February 12, 2007
Those spray can writings in orange and red are signs of gang activity the Sioux City Police Department is hoping to stomp out.
As the appearance ebbs and flows, graffiti has been discussed for years in Sioux City. Now city officials are hoping a $17,491 grant from the state will help stem the graffiti, although a city councilman said the city should step forward with more money to fight it.
The Sioux City Council on Monday officially accepted a Project Safe Neighborhoods Anti-Gang Grant from the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy. The money will be used to conduct 10 one-hour anti-gang rallies in elementary schools, along with $12,951 going for gang sweeps and $4,540 for graffiti surveillance cameras.
Councilman Brent Hoffman noted that amount isn't sufficient to fund even one camera for surveillance, since the cost is about $6,000 per camera. As the council sets its budget for the year ahead, Hoffman said the police department should inform the council how many cameras they'd like to see funded. He said it is important "to attack this in a very aggressive, head-on manner."
Councilman Dave Ferris said dealing with gangs "has to be a new top priority." He said the days of "20 houses in a row" getting hit with graffiti must be stopped. Ferris said the police department must be proactive to show Sioux Cityans are "sick of the crap."
Police Capt. Pete Groetken said Police Chief Joe Frisbie has recently announced "zero tolerance" for graffiti. Groetken said the anti-gang assemblies will likely be in grade K-5 elementaries in the city.
North High junior Kortney Cosgrove was at the meeting to observe for a government class, but approached the podium to weigh in on the gang topic. Cosgrove said the anti-gang rallies in schools won't be as effective if they're primarily having uniformed police officers decrying the ills of gang bangers. She said "kids probably would be more accepting" of the topic if reformed gang members were featured in the school assemblies.
Mayor Craig Berenstein and Councilmen Brent Hoffman and Jim Rixner said Cosgrove made an excellent point. "Kids will pay more attention to their peers," Rixner said.
Rixner said prevention of gangs would be aided by trying to steer youngsters into sports or programs like Beyond the Bell.
In graffiti law enforcement endeavors, Groetken said "we've had some success in the last month -- I think we've arrested nine people." He said prosecuting graffiti offenses can be challenging, since it is hard to get an eyewitness to the act.
He said following graffiti along West Seventh Street, an officer apprehended three youths, who said they got the spray cans from a nearby paint store. The store was cited for not complying with the city ordinance that youths must be of sufficient age to buy spray paint.
In the "drug sweep" area, Groetken said, some gang members who have been adjudicated by the legal system are put on probation. Therefore, they are subject to visits in their homes, where officers can "sit down and talk to Mom and Dad," and search their rooms. Groetken said the new state funding will enable more of those drug sweeps.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
As the appearance ebbs and flows, graffiti has been discussed for years in Sioux City. Now city officials are hoping a $17,491 grant from the state will help stem the graffiti, although a city councilman said the city should step forward with more money to fight it.
The Sioux City Council on Monday officially accepted a Project Safe Neighborhoods Anti-Gang Grant from the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy. The money will be used to conduct 10 one-hour anti-gang rallies in elementary schools, along with $12,951 going for gang sweeps and $4,540 for graffiti surveillance cameras.
Councilman Brent Hoffman noted that amount isn't sufficient to fund even one camera for surveillance, since the cost is about $6,000 per camera. As the council sets its budget for the year ahead, Hoffman said the police department should inform the council how many cameras they'd like to see funded. He said it is important "to attack this in a very aggressive, head-on manner."
Councilman Dave Ferris said dealing with gangs "has to be a new top priority." He said the days of "20 houses in a row" getting hit with graffiti must be stopped. Ferris said the police department must be proactive to show Sioux Cityans are "sick of the crap."
Police Capt. Pete Groetken said Police Chief Joe Frisbie has recently announced "zero tolerance" for graffiti. Groetken said the anti-gang assemblies will likely be in grade K-5 elementaries in the city.
North High junior Kortney Cosgrove was at the meeting to observe for a government class, but approached the podium to weigh in on the gang topic. Cosgrove said the anti-gang rallies in schools won't be as effective if they're primarily having uniformed police officers decrying the ills of gang bangers. She said "kids probably would be more accepting" of the topic if reformed gang members were featured in the school assemblies.
Mayor Craig Berenstein and Councilmen Brent Hoffman and Jim Rixner said Cosgrove made an excellent point. "Kids will pay more attention to their peers," Rixner said.
Rixner said prevention of gangs would be aided by trying to steer youngsters into sports or programs like Beyond the Bell.
In graffiti law enforcement endeavors, Groetken said "we've had some success in the last month -- I think we've arrested nine people." He said prosecuting graffiti offenses can be challenging, since it is hard to get an eyewitness to the act.
He said following graffiti along West Seventh Street, an officer apprehended three youths, who said they got the spray cans from a nearby paint store. The store was cited for not complying with the city ordinance that youths must be of sufficient age to buy spray paint.
In the "drug sweep" area, Groetken said, some gang members who have been adjudicated by the legal system are put on probation. Therefore, they are subject to visits in their homes, where officers can "sit down and talk to Mom and Dad," and search their rooms. Groetken said the new state funding will enable more of those drug sweeps.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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