By Pepper Fisher
SEQUIM – More disturbing graffiti was found at Sequim Middle School over the weekend. In a letter that went out to parents on Sunday, school officials said, “The graffiti was located on the school’s basketball court and on one classroom door. The graffiti include a racial slur, prejudice labeling of LGBTQ people, two swastikas and vulgar, defamatory language toward females. Private body parts were also drawn.”
The letter says the police were immediately notified and are investigating available camera footage. No threats were made toward the school or individuals, but school officials are calling on the community to join them in denouncing bigotry and hate speech.
A very similar incident happened in September at the middle school and Helen Haller Elementary, which led to beefed-up security and police presence on the first day of school because of the threatening tone of the graffiti.
Sequim Police Sgt. Jeff Thaxton says that, while crude and vulgar, this weekend’s event didn’t rise to that level. We asked him if the style of the graffiti matched the previous event.
“So, I did not look at the two to compare them. I did forward it to our SRO, and our Detective Sergeant, for them to compare to see if it matched. What was written is not threatening like the other one was, and I was on duty when that one came out, and I’m the one who basically notified the Chief, the Deputy Chief, the Superintendent and decided that that needed to be taken very seriously. This one was more like a juvenile prank type deal.”
We learned from Deputy Chief Mike Hill that, as a result of the investigation into the previous incident, several other crimes have been solved, including a few vehicle prowls that a group of juveniles committed as well as several other incidents of students vandalizing and spray painting on the other campuses.
In the meantime, school officials say an interim plan for additional camera surveillance has been developed and is slated for completion over winter break in December. And a larger, comprehensive safety and security upgrade is being planned for Summer 2023.