Graffiti Artists Debate the Vandal Squad
Cope 2, Ket, and Ellis G. Disapprove Graffiti Book Written by Cops
Mar 23, 2009
A mix between a book release party and a McLaughlin Group debate, the powerHouse Arena event on March 19, 2009 revolved around the release of Vandal Squad: Inside the New York City Transit Squad 1984-2004, a new book on graffiti written not from the eyes of a writer, but the NYPD–a first.
From the perspective of the graffiti artists on stage, they saw Vandal Squad as a one-sided and completely false view of the graffiti scene for the past 20 years. On the other hand, retired officer Steven Mona argued, "The beauty of writing is that you get to tell your story".
The Members of the Vandal Squad
On one couch sat former Commanding Officer Lieutenant Steven Mona, who ran the Vandal Squad for over ten years, Lt. Ken Chiulli who was an original member of the 1981 Vandal Squad, and Vandal Squad officer-turned-author Joseph Rivera. One couch over sat three internationally known graffiti artists who go only by the tags Cope 2, Ket, and Ellis G.
Nestled under the Manhattan Bridge in the redeveloped section of Brooklyn's D.U.M.B.O. neighborhood, the subway would roll overhead as a reminder of what these two opposing sides had been fighting over. Those very same trains were once the battlegrounds between police defending the Subway lines from getting defaced and graffiti artists with a mission to get their names up wherever paint could dry.
Graffiti Writer Horror Stories
Both sides had their share of horror stories. Cope 2 admitted to being beaten and kicked by police when he was caught tagging a building a few years back. Ellis G. got into a heated debate about the legality of arresting someone–particularly himself–drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. After the moderator asked the group whether graffiti is fun, Joseph Rivera only commented that a fellow officer was almost killed when he touched the third rail chasing a graffiti writer through a subway tunnel.
This face-off was 30 years in the making. Moderated by Stern Rockwell, founder of Streets Are Saying Things, both sides confronted one another on several long-disputed philosophies on the legality of graffiti, its place in the art world, and the compulsion to tag that drives so many writers to risking their lives to put their tags on train cars and highway billboards. Itching like an addict, Cope 2 looked around: "I see a train, sometimes I just want to tag the whole car."
A cameraman with a Zulu Nation jacket hustled through the crowd to get a better shot from the upstairs balcony. The two-floor arena was crowded with a mix of what Cope2 affectionately referred to as "niggas", undercover cops, and curious enthusiasts waiting for a remake of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Apparently so was the Vandal Squad, who admitted to having the whole event under surveillance after Cope 2 confronted them during the debate.
"Why not? Anyone and everyone who is into graffiti is probably here," said Mona. He was sure there were a few people with warrants out in the crowd. It was a set-up, but Brooklyn's 76th Precinct revealed no arrests were made in the neighborhood that night.
While both sides remained relatively peaceful it became obvious surrounded by graffiti sympathizers, and a trendy paint-stained audience the officers were out of their element. The moderator began to lose his objectivity, arguing with Steve and Ken over their view that "95% of graffiti is not art, it's garbage" contributing to the broken window effect. Ellis brought up the unlawful tactics the police use to catch and interrogate graffiti artists.
At this point the crowd had emptied half a dozen cases of beer from the makeshift bar and the sound of bottles toppling to the floor were echoing through the industrial space.
"I'm not answering any questions pertaining to tactics involved," said Ken.
"****ing crooks!" yelled someone from the crowd.
Even Cops Appreciate Graffiti
Although a peaceful debate between police and graffiti artists has likely never been had making the powerhouse Arena event a first, nothing new was said–except maybe when Steven Mona admitting to owning a pair of tagged Nikes (sounds like the Air Force One Graffiti shoe). Cope 2 was the only artist who admitted the book had any redeeming qualities.
Reminiscing on an old feud between two German graffiti artists and himself, Cope 2 was the artist with the most enthusiasm on the book's release saying "I'm glad the book came out because it clears my name."
Otherwise Ket eloquently spoke for most artists from the era when he said "I don't think it adds anything to the discourse."
"I'll paraphrase from Style Wars," said the former Commanding Officer Lieutenant "we're not art critics, we're cops. You can't poke the junkyard dog and not expect to get bit."
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