Police are investigating after offensive and racist graffiti was discovered at an elementary school in Chatham.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service said the offensive symbols and hateful words, including swastikas, were discovered drawn on park equipment at McNaughton Avenue Public School in Chatham this week.
The police service said it takes acts of vandalism and hate very seriously.
“We strongly urge the public to immediately report these types of vandalism to the respective property owners and the police,” police said in a news release. “It is crucial that these incidents are reported promptly so that we can conduct an effective and efficient investigation and the graffiti can be cleaned up quickly to prevent any further negative impact on others.”
Those who witness similar incidents can report them through the confidential Chatham-Kent Victim Services Hate Reporting Tool.
Anyone with information regarding the vandalism at McNaughton Avenue Public School is asked to contact Constable Hannah Roesch at hannahr@chatham-kent.ca or 519-436-6600. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
