Swastikas spray painted at Roland A. Chatterton elementary school playground, police say
Chatterton Elementary School shown in 2014. Nassau police said swastikas were descovered spray painted at the school's playground on Sunday. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Police are investigating a bias incident in Merrick after a passerby reported finding two swastikas painted on playground equipment at an elementary school.
Nassau County police said the swastikas, a symbol of Nazi hatred against religious and minority groups, were spray painted in black on the powder-blue equipment at the Roland A. Chatterton elementary school on Merrick Avenue.
They were discovered Sunday around 9 a.m. Each measured about 12-by-12 inches, police said.
District officials could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
An online post on the school's website said students had celebrated “Peace & Friendship Day” with a host of activities, including field day events, face-painting and carnival games, at the school on June 16.
Police are asking anyone with information on the hate symbols to call 911 or report any tips to Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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