Kim Nelson is the Graffiti Abatement Team Program Manager for the Salem Police Department. Kim and her team track, photograph, document, and ensure removal of graffiti within the City limits of Salem. The team takes at least 4,000 reports per year.

The team also works with other agencies concerned about graffiti issues. They offer suggestions, tracking methods and other information about strategies that have been working here in Salem, and also provide training and materials to agencies just starting a Graffiti Abatement Program. The team also connects with communities that have established programs, just to find out what they are doing that we might do here in order to enhance the SPD’s program.

We track graffiti at SPD to:

• Identify gang activity trends:  who's in the area, rivals, threats, etc.
• Identify locations for increased gang activity or other types of criminal activity
• Communicate with schools, businesses, and neighborhood associations/residents about what is happening in their immediate area
• Ensure the City stays clean, desirable, feels safter, and shows a less visible decline in property values
• Potentially use the information that additional charges in sentencing offenders that are caught
• Have some way of associating value/cost in regard to graffiti removal in the community

Graffiti affects the entire community, threatens the sense of safety for those residing or visiting, and costs property owners and business proprietors time and money. Citizens are encouraged to take an active role in reporting and removing graffiti to help keep Salem a desirable community. Please help Kim and her team identity areas affected by graffiti by calling the Graffiti Abatement Team Hotline, 503-371-4264 (GANG).  

If you live near Salem, but are outside the City limits, Keizer and Marion County both have graffiti hotline numbers you can contact for more information. For the other agencies websites, click the links below.

http://www.co.marion.or.us/SO/Operations/programs/pbgp.htm

File a Graffiti Report by Phone:

1) Call 503-371-4264
2) Leave your name, your telephone number and the location and description of the graffiti

File a Graffiti Report by Mail:

1) Print out a Report Form
2) Fill out the form when graffiti is seen...Please Print Legibly
3) Mail the report to the address on the form

File a Graffiti Report by Fax:

1) Print out a Report Form
2) Fill out the form when graffiti is seen...Please Print Legibly
3) Fax the report to: 503-588-6135

File a Graffiti Report by Email:

1) Use the Graffiti Complaint Form below.