PORT ANGELES — Graffiti painted this week on the back of a bathroom building at Shane Park are part of a pattern of vandalism that causes thousands of dollars of damage every year, said Police Chief Terry Gallagher.
The Shane Park vandalism is likely the result of a single person, but there are no suspects in the case, Gallagher said.
The spray-painted symbols were applied between Sunday evening and Monday morning, and included a Star of David, compass symbols, a rough map of the Olympic Peninsula, “NW Fam,” several numbers and the initials “F.G.,” all in blue-green spray paint.
The graffiti did not appear to be part of any gang-related symbolism known to the Police Department, Gallagher said.
Graffiti costly
Corey Delikat, parks and recreation director for the city of Port Angeles, said vandalism at city parks cost the city about $70,000 in the period between 2009 and 2013, with bathrooms the most heavily hit target and heavily used parks the least damaged.
All of the parks have been subject to vandalism as well as the Waterfront Trail, Delikat said.
“We try to get to it the same day,” he said.
Delikat said he has contacted park officials in other cities to see what might be done to reduce the damage.
“We’re better off than most places. Other places get tagged quite a bit,” he said.
He said many cities have teams whose only job is to travel from park to park removing vandalism.
The vandalism seems to come in waves and is seasonal, he said, with more appearing during months with nice weather.
“It’s that time of year,” Delikat said.
However, graffiti don’t seem to be appearing more or less than in previous years, he said.
No notable increase
Gallagher agreed with Delikat and said that despite the recent graffiti under the Tumwater Creek bridge and the spray-painted word “jihad” that appeared on trash bins and walls in downtown alleys, there is no notable increase in vandalism.
“Tagging has been an issue on and off,” he said.
Members of Revitalize Port Angeles have been spending their own money to paint over vandalism in many locations, including the downtown “jihad” tags.
No new graffiti appeared after the tags were painted over, Gallagher said.
Bailey J. Anders, 23, pleaded guilty to third-degree malicious mischief in Clallam County District Court on June 8 in regard to graffiti painted on the Tumwater Creek bridge.
He was fined $250 and ordered to perform 16 hours of community service.
Gallagher said the best way to fight vandalism is to report sightings of active vandalism to police at 360-452-4545.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
