Police are investigating a vandalism case near a public park as a hate crime, after an unknown suspect spray-painted a swastika on the sidewalk.
On Sunday, January 28, 2024 at about 8:43 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call of a vandalism that had just been discovered near Peers Park at 1899 Park Boulevard. A passerby told police he had seen a swastika painted on the sidewalk.
An officer responded and located the swastika, which had been spray-painted in white paint and was about 15 inches in length. Police promptly notified a Public Works crew, who responded later that evening and removed it. Police do not know when the crime occurred, nor do they have any suspect information. There have not been any other similar reports received by police recently in Palo Alto.
To view details on other hate crime vandalisms that have occurred in the past, visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/PAPDnews and search by keyword “hate.” Officers will thoroughly investigate any reported hate crime in Palo Alto. You are welcome to read a blog post from the City entitled “Steps the Community Can Take to Help Stop Hate Crimes.” The City of Palo Alto strongly denounces hate crimes of all kinds and encourages members of our community to promptly report these incidents by calling our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413, or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to [email protected] or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.
