GORDONSVILLE - Messages charging racism among town of Gordonsville police officers have been scrawled in white paint on the pavement of three residential streets.

“Racist cops” was painted four times on Baker Street and once on Church Street. A longer message on Park Street starts “HELP.” It continues, almost without punctuation: “We have racist cops and demand something be done. You are locking our future up innocently Will anybody listen.” It is signed “from people who care.”

A town public works employee found the graffiti between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Tuesday morning during routine rounds. The messages were likely painted late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

Gordonsville officials will set a town meeting within the week to discuss police-community relations and hope to hear from residents.

“The town certainly doesn’t tolerate racism among its staff and certainly not on its police force,” said Jeff Poole, town manager. “That being said, I would sincerely like to discuss these concerns with our citizen who reached out by writing this message.”

Emily Winkey, the town’s police committee chair and only black councilor, said she has recently heard fleeting comments from residents about police relations,  but did not know if any specific incident sparked the graffiti or who was responsible.

Winkey said she thought concerned residents would bring their issues before town council but thinks they may have found another path of expression.

“We don’t want this to happen to a small town like Gordonsville,” she said. “I don’t know why they want to take out their frustrations in the streets by destructing property like this.”

She said she does not believe any town officer is racist, but that apparently someone is “spelling it out for us that they are possibly being harassed in this area.”

Police Chief Terry Duty could not be reached for comment.

The town police department employs four full-time officers, a chief and nine auxiliary, or volunteer, officers.

A meeting time will be set in the next few days, Poole said.

“Our intent is to hold a meeting with some members of the community and until that time, the messages will remain on the streets,” he said. “I want folks to feel like they have an opportunity to express their concerns.”

Contact Olympia Meola at (434) 978-7265 or omeola@dailyprogress.com.