You don’t have to be arrested to do community service.
Now that the weather is nice, the 88th Precinct is looking for volunteers to help remove graffiti from all over the neighborhood.
“It’s nice to be outside,” said 88th Precinct Community Affairs Officer Varlos Brathwaite. He said the call to arms is not a response to a “sudden surge” in graffiti, but rather “just something that’s been stepped up in the past two or three years.”
The precinct is also asking residents to report any new graffiti, which volunteers — and perps — will power-wash and remove, free of charge.
If community service or good weather aren’t motivation enough, there is always the money: rewards of up to $500 are available to people who report graffiti vandalism in progress, or whose tips lead to a conviction. All calls are confidential.
Observers should dial 911 if they see someone tagging a building; they can also report existing graffiti, or tips on past crimes, to the city’s graffiti task force through 311. To volunteer, or request clean-up help, call the 88th Precinct at (718) 636-6511.
