Swastikas and racial slurs targeting Black people were spray-painted inside men's restrooms at seven Palo Alto parks and two downtown parking garages, the Palo Alto Police Department announced Friday, July 10, in what investigators are treating as a series of hate crimes.
The vandalism caused an estimated $3,400 in damage across four police case reports covering the nine locations and prompted the department to increase patrols at parks and similar city facilities.
Public Works crews have already removed all the graffiti.
How it unfolded
The first report came Saturday, July 4, when a Public Works employee found spray-painted swastikas and sexual images inside the men's restroom at Greer Park, 1098 Amarillo Ave. Police estimated that vandalism occurred sometime after Thursday, July 2. Damage: $600.
Two days later, on Monday, July 6, another employee reported graffiti in the men's restroom at Rinconada Park, 777 Embarcadero Road. Police said that incident, done with permanent marker, did not include hate crime elements. Damage: $500.
Those two discoveries triggered a broader inspection. On Thursday, July 9, Public Works staff found seven additional hate crime vandalisms, all in men's restrooms and all containing racial epithets directed at Black people. The locations:
- Ramos Park, 800 East Meadow Drive
- Seale Park, 3100 Stockton Place
- City Parking Garage S/L, 445 Bryant St.
- Greer Park, 1098 Amarillo Ave. (second incident)
- El Camino Park, 155 El Camino Real
- Heritage Park, 300 Homer Ave.
- City Parking Garage C-7, 350 Sherman Ave.
Pattern of incidents
The July cases follow an earlier hate crime at Rinconada Park reported Thursday, June 11, when someone spray-painted a racial epithet, two swastikas, and sexualized images on playground structures overnight. The suspects returned the following night to vandalize the same equipment again.
That June incident, combined with the July 4 and July 6 reports, prompted the citywide restroom inspection that uncovered the broader pattern.
No suspects identified
Police said Friday they have no suspect information and do not know whether the cases are connected or the work of one person. The investigations remain open.
The department noted that suspects who commit such crimes can face misdemeanor or felony charges for vandalism and hate crimes, depending on the amount of damage.
The city's press release stated that Palo Alto "strongly denounces hate crimes of all kinds and encourages members of our community to promptly report these incidents."
How to report
Residents with information can call the Palo Alto Police Department's 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting PAPD to 847411 or through the Palo Alto PD Tips app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
