Graffiti patrol adds officer
By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer
MONTEBELLO - Graffiti Detective Ismael Navarro is teaming up with a probation officer in the fight against local criminals.

"It is unusual," said Navarro, "but because we have a lot of probationers in this city, and we have information these people are still committing crimes, we can go right to her."

Officials from the Los Angeles County Probation Department asked that the probation officer's name not be used in this story because of safety concerns.

"It's because of the sensitivity of the things she'll be covering," said Robert Glorae, a supervising probation officer at the department's gang unit. "But she is perfect. She's energetic, hyper, intelligent."

The new probation officer will be referred to cases in the city as needed, and will provide guidance, referrals and ongoing supervision of the city's probationers, Glorae said.

"What we're trying to put together here is something I think is so important," said Montebello police Chief Garry Couso-Vasquez. "It will help us go further when we do probation-compliance checks. We want vandals to know that if they do graffiti here, we'll prosecute you to the letter of the law."

She will work side-by-side with Navarro, patrolling streets, making informational visits to the schools and visiting probationers at home, school and work.
The city split the cost for this addition with the county, which was about $130,000 for the year.

Navarro said the addition is part of a comprehensive graffiti eradication program between police, city, probation department, school district officials.

"Before, the city was working alone to fight graffiti," said Navarro. "It was just me. Now, we're all working together. If you're at home, we'll go there. If you're at school, we're there. If you're on probation, we'll make sure you'll get the help you need."

The city spends about $300,000 a year removing graffiti. Last year, workers removed graffiti from more than 56,000 locations in Montebello.

"We're seeing a lot of graffiti still. Most of the kids still feel nothing is going to happen to them," said Navarro. "But as soon they see the probation officer, the city and schools all working together, that will change."

sandy.mazza@sgvn.com

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