ARTESIA — The Artesia Police Department, together with Artesia Clean & Beautiful, the Rocky Mountain Information Network and the New Mexico Gang Task Force, will host a free anti-gang and anti-graffiti seminar from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Artesia Center, 612 N. Eighth St.
The seminar will be open to the public and is geared toward parents, school administrators and staff, faith-based organizations and citizens of the community who are concerned about gangs, graffiti and vandalism in Artesia.
Scheduled programs include:
• Opening commentary by APD Chief Don Raley.
• Anti-graffiti presentation by Sgt. Dwight Waldo of the San Bernardino, Calif., Police Department in conjunction with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who will present an in-depth look at the problems of graffiti, taggers and the culture of graffiti vandals and how they affect the quality of life in communities.
• Anti-gang presentation by Robert C. Walker, retired AIC, DEA and STG director with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, who will present a look at gangs and their effects on communities, why they continued, and what citizens can do as individuals.
For more information on the seminar, contact Cpl. Esteban Sepulveda or Cpl. Jeff Letcher of the APD Community Policing Unit at 746-5000.