Web program helps South Bay police track, arrest taggers
WEB-BASED ANTI-GRAFFITI PROGRAM HELPS COUNTY’S POLICE AGENCIES SHARE INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY, ARREST THOSE RESPONSIBLE
By Mark Gomez Mercury News
Article Launched: 09/01/2008 09:53:35 AM PDT
Soon after joining the San Jose Police Department’s anti-graffiti unit, Eric Hove saw a need for a more effective way to chase down the tagging crews and gang members who cause about $1.8 million in damage to the city every year.
So the computer-savvy cop did some research and found a Web-based program that he believes will make a serious dent in the South Bay’s growing graffiti problem. Created by a Pittsburgh-based company, the Graffiti Tracking System will connect nearly every agency in Santa Clara County, allowing law enforcement officials to quickly and easily share information on taggers who often strike in more than one jurisdiction.
“Hopefully we can get a higher amount of arrests and better quality cases throughout the region and tie these people together so they get full accountability for what they’ve done,” said Hove, who expects the system to be fully running this fall.
The Web-based program — which is replacing San Jose police’s antiquated paper filing system — will allow investigators to download digital photos, receive e-mail alerts and more easily share information on the vandals who spray paint graffiti on sound walls, billboards and just about anything else in the public’s view. Police track the taggers based on the signatures they typically leave with their handiwork, like artists signing a painting, which are often initials to represent a crew or a nickname for an individual.