To combat a growing graffiti problem, the city should reward tipsters who blow the whistle on those who are spray painting illegally on the walls of homes and businesses, one city councilor says.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said there should be a $1,000 reward offered to people who turn in the graffiti artists to police.
“If nothing else, it’s a deterrent,” Cockayne said.
The first-term Republican said that he is seeing “more and more graffiti around the city” and is concerned that it’s becoming an eyesore in too many areas.
City councilors agreed to pass on the idea to the Police Board, which would have the power to set up the reward program if its members think the benefits would outweigh the cost.
Cockayne said that property owners who are stuck with the cleanup tab whenever someone spray paint a wall would rather see a crackdown than keep shelling out to sandblast or repaint buildings after vandals strike.
“This is my way of being proactive rather than reactive,” Cockayne said.
He said the reward program would provide “another weapon for the police” in their efforts to prevent more graffiti in town.
Cockayne said that $1,000 “is a lot of money” for some of the young or poor people who might be able to finger the vandals who are painting the graffiti in many areas of the city.
New Britain has a similar program, Cockayne said, and it’s working well to bolster the police’s chances of catching those who paint the graffiti.
“It’s a great idea,” he said, that Bristol ought to copy.
New Britain began a few months ago to offer $1,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who paint graffiti on walls, buildings and other locations. It has led to some arrests.
Cockayne said the city could take the reward cash from its $17 million rainy day fund.
“It’s a good way to use the money,” Cockayne said.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
25 comments:
Mike Rimcoski had an aerosal can in his trash. Coincidence.....I think not!
How would you prove that the accused person is guilty if you don't have a video tape of them actually doing it?
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said there should be a $1,000 reward offered to people who turn in the graffiti artists to police.
“If nothing else, it’s a deterrent,” Cockayne said.
-This is ridiculously too much money for this type of "tip". Is Cockayne on crack?
Ken,
Any reward with city dollars would allow the culprit to access city records to determine who "squealed".
That was a problem during the last administration when Stortz made the offer and someone came forward.
I know that Stortz contacted State legislators to se if anything could be done via legislation to protect the informant, don't know if he heard anything.
Why do you dignify these vandals as graffiti "Artists"
They are vandals who damage the property of others to mark their territory. Like a dog peeing on a fire hydrant.
Once caught we should break their fingers (accidentally) and ship them off to Harlem or the Bronx where the real taggers will rip them a new one.
Artists, I don't think so.
Great idea Ken!
My neighborhood has been hit repeatedly. I called my council reps last fall (Zoppo and Mccauly) and they introduced somethng at a council meeting to bulk up the law. What happened to that? I know they did it, because I watched that council show on TV.
Who is gonna squeal when their name is public information?
Think it through Ken: sounds like another Nicastro like sound bite.
Gee I thought Cockayne was a tax cut conservetive ? Where are you going to get the $1000.00 from? Taxes ???
Does Ken, either one, have a clue?
7:58 poster
If you read the article Cockayne clearly said the money would come from the Rainy Day Fund!
If your not aware of it, this fund is from the conveyance tax. This is the same tax that the past administration could have lowered but instead voted to keep it as is!
So just to spell it out for you! It's money the city already has!!
All you negative people are nuts! For once we have a Councilman that is trying to get things done. He is working with both sides R's and D's. All you people are doing is attacking him.
What happened to "Move Bristol For-Ward"?!
I'll tell you! Cockayne is moving forward! Trying to get things done! Ward and his cronies are too busy taking care of election promisses!
Keep up the good work Cockayne! It's nice too see someone working for the people!......ALL THE PEOPLE!!
Clarification:
The Rainy Day Fund DOES NOT come the conveyance tax.
The city DOES not contribute to it, rolled over surpluses go into it.
Drawing down for expenses is frowned upon, and could affect the Bond Rating and/or Bond Rates.
Nice to throw quips around, but sooner or later one has to know what they are talking about.
4:01pm.....now that it has been recognized that you don't have an idea of what you are talking about and now that you have been given the correct information on what you have denonstrated that you know nothing about, how foolish do you feel? Definately look pretty stupid.
Is there, was there a solution to the reward issue?
yeah, make both the offender and the tipster spend an hour with Cockayne - that way both of them will realize they are losers.
Why isn't Cockayne asking for a grand reward when a drug dealer is turned in and prosecuted? He's been complaining about the elements surrounding downtown and he wants to hand a grand to someone that turns in a graffiti artist?
Get your priorities straight.
The reward was paid, wasn't it?
How was it done?
Let's face it. No one will turn in a graffiti artist unless there's some incentive. Perhaps we can come up with a solution that will benefit the citizens without hitting their wallets. Let's find out how other towns do it. Bristol, England had a HUGE graffiti problem. Unfortunately, I have forgotten how they solved their problem. Oh well, one phone call would take care of that.
Ken knows how to get the headlines.
I must admit that the last poster is certainly right. Also, this subject is nothing new. They've been bantering about this graffiti thing for awhile. I don't like it when Mr. Cockayne attempts to act as if this is a new problem and he's brought it to everyone's attention. Get a clue, Ken ... it's been on the table before and probably will continue to be brought up until a rational solution is proposed.
first a graffiti artist must be caught red handed in order for an conviction.and the alleged culprit is going to be arrsted becuase someone said he did it?unless theres video or photo of the person with their face clearly visible nothing can come of it. this policy is a joke
Steve,
Have you folowed up on the paid out reward?
Or wasn't it paid out?
Maybe Cockayne and his republican friends want the taxpayers to pay for his idea. Conservative?
Thank you 4:15 maybe and I mean a big maybe these clowns will learn something instead of (as usual) not knowing what they are talking about, And conveyence tax? Sounds like a realtor to me .
Whats next Ken?
What are you doing about our taxes?
Or was that just campaign propganda?
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