Ramapo Police Department Brings in Teens Responsible for New Square Graffiti

By M.C. Millman

It took less than an hour for Ramapo Police Department detectives working in tandem with New Squares Ershte Hilf to find the culprits responsible for graffiti chalked onto the sidewalk on Jefferson Avenue in New Square yesterday afternoon.

While initially deemed an antisemitic incident by New Square residents, the police department confirms that was not the case.

"We are confident that the intention behind the act was not antisemitic or malicious," Ramapo Police Detective Lieutenant Christopher Franklin shares with Rockland Daily. 

Shortly after being called to the scene, Ramapo Police detectives were able to identify and locate the individuals responsible for the chalk scrawl on the sidewalk. Both are juveniles. One did the actual writing while the other watched.  

"We treat calls of this nature with utmost seriousness,". Ramapo Chief of Police Martin Reilly shares with Rockland Daily. "Regardless of whether the message was inscribed in chalk or not, we devoted our resources to locating and identifying those responsible. The Ramapo Police Department remains committed against any form of hatred within our community." 

According to Detective Lieutenant Franklin, the graffiti does not fall under any kind of harassment or qualify as a hate crime, nor does it fall under anything in the NYS penal code or statutes, so no criminal charges were made, as no laws were broken.

The pair of sixteen-year-olds, who were working as waiters in the Village before the incident, came down to the Ramapo police station, where officers spoke to them about the seriousness of their actions before releasing them to the custody of their parents.

"We are very thankful for swift response and prompt investigation of this case," New Square's Ershte Hilf shares with Rockland Daily. "Even though the teenagers might not have meant anything by it, the fact that they were picked up and educated so such an incident won't happen again means a lot to the Village as the incident was very hurtful for community members. We appreciate our longstanding relationship with the Ramapo Police Department and that they are responsive and there for us."