A recent criminal incident involved four youth painting offensive graffiti, including a swastika and drug references, on a public building. The local press learned about the incident and it appeared in the paper. Given the young ages of the boys, and the potential for the controversy to be inflamed, the police were eager for options. They wanted a response that would underscore how serious this crime was, and they also wanted to allay fears among Jewish community members who may worry about a sleeper cell of neo-Nazis in town.