County rolls out vehicle to remove graffiti

In response to a lack of graffiti removal operations in unincorporated areas of Pinal County and smaller cities, the Pinal County sheriffs and sttorney’s offices have teamed up to provide citizens with a quick, easy and free way to remove graffiti.

Because Maricopa does not have a specific unit dedicated to removing graffiti, it just might come in handy.

“This gives the county a tool to deal with unsightly graffiti,” said Vanessa White, public information officer for the Pinal County Sheriffs Department.

The new graffiti removal vehicle was donated to the Sheriffs department by Pinal County Fleet Services Director Ray Flores.

The truck is outfitted with the equipment to steam and wash off graffiti off or cover it with paint.

“We use inmate labor, and all the paint is donated, so the only cost to the county is the gas,” White said.

In addition to the vehicle, the sheriffs department has set up a hotline for county residents to report graffiti.

“Our goal is to remove the graffiti as quickly as it goes up,” Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez said. “This was a joint effort to provide this important service free to the citizens of Pinal County and address the problem of graffiti in communities.”

To report graffiti in Pinal County call (520) 866-5145.

Submitted photo: From left, Pinal County Attorney James Walsh, Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez and Ray Flores, Director of Pinal County Fleet Services, stand with the new graffiti removal vehicle.