TOWN AGAINST GRAFFITI: Hillsboro Police Graffiti Removal Program

Goal:

To reduce the length of time graffiti is visible in Hillsboro by educating the public about proper removal. We will educate community groups about reducing repeat graffiti through prompt removal.

Strategies:

• Educate the community about reducing the reoccurrences of graffiti in neighborhoods. 
• Translate educational material in Spanish.
• In addition to ongoing removal, arrange for an annual City-wide graffiti removal.
• Engage youth in graffiti removal.

Historically, graffiti has been an ongoing problem in the City of Hillsboro.  We know that graffiti or "tagging" seems to increase during the spring and summer months. The reasons for graffiti ranges from bored kids to gang-related behavior by “marking areas” with graffiti that identifies a particular gang.

Graffiti decreases the quality of life for our neighborhoods in the City of Hillsboro. We, as a Department, can assist the City in reducing the amount of time graffiti would remain visible on a building, fence, and other properties by engaging civilian volunteers to participate in the process of graffiti removal. Through community education, we will educate our citizens to first report the graffiti to police and then remove the graffiti within 72 hours.

With the assistance of community volunteers and partnerships with the business community, the Hillsboro Police Department Volunteer Program Coordinator oversees the Hillsboro Police Graffiti Removal Program. If the graffiti is not removed within our desired 72 hours, our volunteers will remove the graffiti.

Our goal is to first encourage homeowners and businesses to remove the graffiti on their own, but we have found that some homeowners have limited resources available to remove the graffiti. We will work with these homeowners by having them sign a waiver giving us permission to remove the graffiti. We are dedicated to having the graffiti removed.

The Hillsboro Police Department is committed to educating the public about the importance of reporting and removing graffiti as soon as it shows up in City neighborhoods.