LYNNWOOD — Neighbors and police came together, and their persistence appears to have paid off.
In May, the Lynnwood Police Department started an aggressive campaign against graffiti. It worked so well, they wouldn’t talk about it until now, wanting to make sure the changes stuck.
“If you look through our city, our graffiti is almost nonexistent at the current state,” said Sgt. T.J. Brooks, who leads the police department’s community health and safety unit.
The main focus of their efforts was a mile-long stretch of 208th Street SW, between 52nd Avenue W. and Highway 99.
Overall, gangs are responsible for only about 10 percent of graffiti, Brooks said. In that stretch of 208th, it was “100 percent gang-related,” he said.
“We got inundated along 208th … They hit every fence. They hit everything they could possibly paint. It was all matching graffiti,” he said.
Brooks got hold of a city public works van that was slated for auction. He got graphics for the van and filled it with paint and rollers. Miller Paint of Lynnwood donated paint and supplies.
Brooks approached Lynnwood Miller Paint to ask for help, according to a company newsletter. The company promised to make the effort an ongoing partnership to help rid the city of graffiti.
Their first official cleanup work party on 208th was May 2. “We put together a day that we were going to go out there and paint the entire mile,” Brooks said.
Days earlier, officers went door-to-door to pass out fliers and invite neighbors to participate. The labor force included police department volunteers, a Korean youth group and some folks with court-ordered community service. Volunteers still conduct graffiti patrols in Lynnwood, about five hours a week now, Brooks said.
When May 2 arrived, people joined the police with power washers, rollers and water bottles to share. The mayor, police chief and city council members also helped.
“Everybody came out of the woodwork. They all knew we were coming,” Brooks said. “It was unbelievable cooperation.”
The next morning, Brooks got a call. The graffiti was back.
“That was discouraging, but we went right out there again,” he said. “Within about 10 hours, we painted it again. That was on a Sunday.”
That Tuesday, the taggers hit a third time. Again, the police, volunteers and neighbors repainted.
The police department’s special operations unit got involved, gathering intelligence, Brooks said. They figured out who was responsible, teens and young people, mostly boys. In their investigation they made unrelated arrests, including finding people with warrants. Investigators went to suspects’ homes and talked to their parents.
Police were “letting them know we were watching,” Brooks said. “Whenever they talked to somebody, there were arrests … That brought attention. Nobody wants to go to jail.”
The neighborhood hasn’t seen the same tagging since, he said.
It has been inspiring to see people come together, including the different city departments, Mayor Nicola Smith said Friday. The same community health team has been working since early 2014 to address neighborhood issues such as garbage piles, abandoned vehicles and other signs of blight.
“I’m so proud of the work that has been accomplished thus far and I know there is more to come,” Smith said.
The neighbors have since bought a power washer to share, and installed a surveillance camera.
“This was all neighbors. It was all started by them. We didn’t suggest it,” Brooks said. “They just wanted to take ownership and make sure the problem doesn’t come back. They are so appreciative that we took the effort out there.”
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
How to help
The Lynnwood Police Department is always looking for volunteers. There are different kinds of volunteering opportunities available, including those for young people. For more information, call 425-670-5635.
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