Newtown Police Department is investigating disturbing graffiti found on June 25 in Hawleyville. Several passing motorists reported the vandalism to police on Friday morning.

Officers were dispatched to Hawleyville Road for the reported racist and anti-Semitic graffiti painted on what appeared to be an abandoned truck and boat. According to a statement from the police department, the graffiti is believed to have occurred during the overnight hours of June 24-25.

After documenting the graffiti for investigative purposes the department contacted the Highway Department and the offensive work was immediately painted over and covered.

Newtown police believe the vehicles where left on property owned by Eversource. Police officers contacted Eversource in an effort to have the abandoned vehicles removed from the area.

Newtown Police Chief James Viadero called the incident “reprehensible.”

The incident, he said, “is being thoroughly investigated.

“We will not tolerate these types of incidents and those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if apprehended,” the police chief added. “We understand that these types of incidents cause a great deal of alarm and concern for our community, they can be assured that it is being dealt with with the utmost concern due to its severity. We urge anyone with information to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841. All calls will be kept confidential.”

Officers will continue to canvas the area seeking information on those individuals responsible, Viadero further stated.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal was contacted by the police and informed of the incident.

“These types of hateful and disgusting acts have no place in town. They make all of us feel less safe and especially our residents targeted by this filth,” Rosenthal stated. “The best way to stop these acts is to make an example of those responsible. I am certain that the Newtown Police Department is working diligently to identify those responsible since the graffiti was recently found yesterday.

The police department has made progress in these types of investigations recently, the first selectman noted, pointing to the recent arrest of an individual following a racist Zoombombing incident.

“I look forward to the same result here,” Rosenthal said.