SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – The Sioux City Police Department has launched an online reporting system for graffiti vandalism, allowing residents to submit photos and location information through the department’s website.
The police department’s website now features a “Police Report” button that directs users to a form where they can provide details about graffiti locations and potential suspects. The system includes an option to upload pictures or videos of the vandalism.
Understanding the difference between murals and graffiti
Christopher Atkins, the Sioux City Arts Center curator, explained the distinction between permitted murals and illegal graffiti depends on authorization from property owners.
“It just depends on the intention and the context. I’ve seen artists who are muralists do things that can be considered transgressive by not necessarily having permission to do something,” Atkins said.
A mural represents an agreement between a property owner and an artist, with the artist receiving permission for the artwork. Graffiti is created without permission, often at night or to make a statement.
“Always consider intention when looking at different creative expressions. You’ve seen a lot of four-letter words painted other places, which you kind of understand those intentions. But other times, the intention might be very good, but the execution might not be exactly how people intended it to be,” Atkins said.
The labor required for murals differs significantly from graffiti creation. The mural of women on 7th Street in Sioux City took months to complete due to planning, sketching and painting time for the realistic artwork.
Mural on 7th Street in Sioux City.
“It almost looks like a photograph. That time that goes into, you know, covering the square footage of the wall. But also getting the skin tones right and the hair color right. Getting the eye color right. All of that,” Atkins said.
Graffiti can be completed in minutes, consisting of simple lines or words. Many graffiti artists “tag” spaces with identifying markers or signatures.
“The signature to me feels like they are taking ownership of that space, but also that experience. It’s like ‘I did this. Not that I just put my name up there, but I got up here.’ And to mark the occasion and say I did that,” Atkins said.
Legal consequences
Regardless of artistic merit, creating graffiti without permission constitutes a crime.
“That person is either going to be arrested and charged with criminal mischief. Depending on the monetary amount of the damage. Or, they could be cited for the criminal mischief as well,” said Sgt. Tom Gill.
Removing graffiti in Sioux City
Property owners have 72 hours to remove graffiti after a report is filed. The city provides free removal services to assist property owners.
City crews use soda pressure washing to remove paint and have equipment for paint matching. They color-match the wall, mix paint for an exact match, then spray the new color. General graffiti removal takes one to two hours. Damage costs in recent cases have been estimated at around $550.
To file a graffiti report, residents can visit the Sioux City Police Department website, click “Police Report,” upload images or video, and include location information.
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