Sussex Leaders Keep an Eye on Graffiti in the Village

is continuing its efforts with neighboring municipalities to make sure graffiti is curbed as the school year comes to an end.

For years, seniors at held a tradition of spray painting a message on the rail road trestle on Town Line Road and Highway 74 just north of the school, but messages started to become more offensive in recent years.   

“We’ve done these (preventive measures) for about a year and a half and it has dramatically changed the amount of graffiti,” village Administrator Jeremy Smith said. “And these kids should realize that it’s an offense that carries a pretty significant ticket.”

Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department Lt. James Gumm said graffiti issues in Sussex remain a juvenile issue in the village, with children focusing on spray painting messages on railroad trestles on Town Line Road, on Waukesha Avenue just north of Main Street and the bridge above Highway 164 north of Highway VV.

Gumm said the department is working with Sussex, Waukesha County and Town of Lisbon leaders to crack down on graffiti and take proactive steps to prevent it from happening.

“We also work with the high school liaison officer who is also in contact with the athletic coaches to relay to the students the negative impact and consequences of graffiti,” he said.

Smith said the village has also worked in conjunction with the Menomonee Falls Police Department to put up cameras at the trestles in order to help catch the offenders in the act.

“Over time it has become more than an end of the school year issue, but an issue during the summer months,” he said. “It was one thing when the kids were putting fun little messages and it was a tradition. But, it has become another thing to put these offensive messages up there.”