On North Tower Avenue. / Courtesy Centralia Police Department
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Centralia police are paying cash money to try to nip a budding gang tagging issue around town.
Officers are seeing an increase in graffiti being attributed to the presence of an emerging gang, according to the Centralia Police Department.
Police Chief Bob Berg describes the problem this way:
Graffiti posted by one gang is a challenge to rival gangs, who will then cross out each other’s graffiti as a sign of disrespect. This leads to retaliation, which often leads to violence between gangs as they struggle for dominance and control of a given area.
The violence can result in everything from additional vandalism, to fights and even drive by shootings, Berg says.
Berg says the new gang, calling itself the Tiny Dukes, is attempting to expand its influence in the area and also recruiting young people.
He wants to stop it before it grows and becomes a significant problem.
Police are asking for the public’s help by reporting any tagging as soon as its spotted, especially good is to call 911 while a tagger is still in the act. The chief wants folks to report any suspicious activity, even if seems insignificant, especially if it involves young people fighting, and even partying, he says.
The police department is willing to pay up to $250 for information leading to the arrest for any individual posting graffiti on public or private property.
The amount paid out will vary in part based on its timeliness, and quality of evidence offered, according to Berg.
“We’re hoping to get some takers on it,” he said.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
“Tiny Dukes?” Tiny Dicks seems more appropriate. Guys with a lot to prove are almost always lacking in that department.
And DCE . . . I would LOVE to see you get that reward. More power to ya’!
Still really PATHETIC that the gangs have to mark their territory like a dog pee’s on a tree. Wait a minute it’s not their territory its OURS. Time to go find some midnight punks and spraypaint on them.
Having lived in cities where gang violence is a daily part of lives I see CPD as being right. One of the most dangerous times is when gangs are beginning. They have more to prove. Crossing out the names of other gangs may seem silly ( and they can’ t spell) but it does lead to escalating violence. Kids have been killed just while crossing out the names of other gangs.
Not only does the Grafitti Look bad, check out all of these ugly sand bags in Centralia! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJHNiogif74 Maybe the gang members could spray paint on each sand bag and the city officials would have an easier time locating them. Just a Thought!
I don’t think they want to do (or are capable of doing) anything worth looking at. I’m surprised they spelled “tiny” right…look they almost got kill right…klll..my how stupid you all look. I say stupid because I don’t think they could read illiterate nor decode the big bad word…it after all has more than 2 syllables.
In olympia they have what is called a Free Wall. We could start with one of these as an outlet to see if this helpd with the problem. Or I could just hide in the Shadows with my Video Camera and Night Vision. Of Course I would have to check with the Centralia PD I wouldn’t want a gun pointed at me like the time I was cleaning up trash on Tower Avenue.
As an after thought…Didn’t graffiti used to be art? What is this crap? At least have the balls to take your time and make it look nice. Pansies.
Omg this is so retarded. This is how the “gang bangers” around here show how hard they are? Oh no please don’t get me with your red spray paint! Lol I really wish these kids would start modeling themselves after someone worth a shit in society or at least take their asses to South Central and see what real gang bangers are about…they’d be dead in less than a week and this problem would solve itself…field trip!
Get your money son!!! Cleaning up our streets starts with you!!! Don’t complain about it be about!!!
Go get ’em DCE. Then take a video of the police handing you the cash!
To the Rescue. Looks Like I could find a night time job catching Grafetti Criminals. 250 bucks is well worth a night on the town. But my question is will the Centralia Police allow me to go untouched as I do my work?