West Long Beach resident feels targeted as gang graffiti Increases

Graffiti is a common sight in Long Beach, but for Jerlene Tatum, the battle against gang tagging is more than just a nuisance—it has become a personal threat.

Tatum, a longtime West Long Beach resident and property owner, has seen graffiti steadily increase in her neighborhood over the past two years. Vandals have repeatedly tagged her property, and the messages have recently become more ominous after she posted a video on social media telling a Long Beach Police officer that she wanted the vandals arrested.

"Because I reported the crime, graffiti was painted on my garage door that said, 'Stop snitching." Tatum says a "K" followed that phrase, a symbol often used in gang-related graffiti to indicate harm or violence.

"There's no other way to interpret that than as a threat," she said.

The warning appeared after Tatum posted a video on social media telling a Long Beach police officer that she did not want those who vandalized her property instructed to "move along." Instead, she said she insisted on filing charges.

"The lack of a gang task force makes it impossible to truly police gang activity," she said. "They're not taking what happened to me and what happened to someone six blocks away and saying, 'This is the same person.'"

Although the Long Beach Police Department no longer uses the term "Gang Task Force," the Department does have a Gangs Detail within its Special Investigations Division.

LBPD also notes that in May last year, the Department launched "the High Crime Focus Team (HCFT) to address emerging crime trends in our community."

Although the department officials say they "take all reports of graffiti seriously, especially if they contain threats of violence, hate speech or other criminal elements—which are investigated accordingly," Tatum said she does not feel safe given the increase of graffiti on her property.

For now, she has installed security cameras. But video surveillance footage shows vandals tampering with her cameras before defacing her property.

The cameras provide her with some sense of safety as she can monitor her surrounding areas as she comes and goes. "My only option for safety is looking over my shoulder and peeking around corners," she said.

While Tatum refuses to live in fear, she believes addressing vandalism and gang activity will require a coordinated effort from the entire community.

"Public safety is more than just law enforcement," she said. "It's having access to resources. It's making sure community-based organizations are out there doing their jobs. It's making sure schools provide the services families and children need."

Tatum believes revamping the Westside Promise (WSP), a 10-year community investment plan launched in 2023, could help accomplish some of that work.

While WSP prioritizes housing, climate resilience, infrastructure, and economic development, Tatum argues that those improvements will not be sustainable without a focus on public safety initiatives.

"West Long Beach is part of the heart of our city," Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a video promoting the project. "We should make sure through the Westside Promise, over this next decade, we do everything we can to make sure the West Long Beach community can achieve its highest and best potential."

To ensure that the west side reaches that potential, Tatum says city leaders must recognize the immediate need for public safety and understand that safety extends beyond law enforcement.

Until meaningful change happens, Tatum feels trapped between vigilance and fear. "One of the worst feelings is seeing graffiti in the neighborhood and wondering if, when I get to my home, I'm going to be the next victim," she said.

LBPD encourages residents who see graffiti to call the Graffiti Hotline at 562-570-2773 or to use the GO Long Beach app.