142-1999 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci,miami-beach,fl.us
L.T.C. No. 142-1999
LETTER TO COMMISSION
June 25, 1999
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City C mmission
SUBJECT: POLICE DEP
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
This Letter to the Commission is to advise the Mayor and City Commission of the Police
Department's anti graffiti efforts.
The Police Department's response to graffiti is a two pronged approach. The first prong is a
preventive element aimed at the elementary level school student through the Police and Youth
Community Assistance Program (PYCAP). The second prong is a proactive enforcement element
that vigorously investigates all graffiti complaints and pursues all graffiti artists.
The School Resource Officer Squad is responsible for the Police Youth and Community Assistance
Program (PYCAP). This program is conducted once a week in the elementary schools and special
alternative schools in Miami Beach. The main focus of the program is for the PYCAP police
officers to establish a bond with "at risk" students. Through this bond, the police officers try to
instill a sense of pride in the students, especially toward their school. Field trips or cleanup drives
are scheduled for the student's school, the surrounding neighborhoods, and parks close to the school.
Litter is bagged and disposed of. Graffiti is painted over with tools, brushes, and paints donated to
PYCAP from local merchants.
In January of 1999, the Police Department's Gang Squad was assigned the responsibility for
investigating all graffiti or criminal mischief cases. All Offense-Incident Reports written concerning
graffiti or criminal mischief are forwarded to the Gang Squad and assigned to a Detective for follow-
up investigation. Officers ofthe Gang Squad are also in constant touch with Mr. George Martinez,
the City Graffiti Removal Coordinator, who refers cases to them on a weekly basis.
Since January 1, 1999, the Gang Squad has investigated 35 cases of criminal mischief. Of the 35
cases, 28 arrests have been made for criminal mischief and the remaining seven are inactive. Two
prolific "Taggers" were arrested in the north beach area. A "Tagger" is the slang word for a person
who specializes in creating graffiti and signs his/her work by their street name known as a "tag". In
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addition, the "Tagger" known as "BLA W" was caught during a surveillance at Biscayne Elementary
School in the last week of April 1999. He was charged with five counts of Criminal Mischief and
$3,000 will be recovered from him for restitution to the City.
In April 1999, police officers of the Gang Squad arrested two juveniles who are prolific "Taggers"
and cleared 12 open cases with their arrest.
The Police Department's response is having positive results and we will update the City Commission
in the future on further progress.
SRlRB/JS/SRlPS
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