Pubdate: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Linda Slobodian, Calgary Herald GUARDIAN ANGELS LEADER VOWS TO 'PEEL AWAY' GANG TROUBLES New York-Based Anti-Crime Group Targets Calgary The only thing better than a guardian angel is a whole chapter of them -- especially when it comes to cleaning up gang crime, says the leader of the namesake U.S.-based anti-crime group. The head of the tough-talking, street-strutting, New York-based Guardian Angels wants to start a chapter in Calgary. "What we are best known for in our 27 years is our gang intervention," said Curtis Sliwa, who researched Calgary's gang problems and says his famous red beret approach can work. "Streets run through our veins. We develop a sixth sense and follow the trail," said Sliwa, who has started chapters in 60 cities in six countries. "We hope to be visiting Calgary after the Easter holiday to start laying the groundwork." But the Calgary Police Service's response is cautiously lukewarm. "To the best of my knowledge, we've not received anything from them, so its premature to talk about anything to do with the Guardian Angels' plans for Calgary because we don't know what they are," said CPS spokesman Robert Palmer. "If they give us some kind of proposal, we'll take a look at it." Palmer said the CPS operates as a community-based police service, part of a "large comprehensive network" that makes the city a safe place to live. He cited Block Watch, Neighborhood Watch and Radio Patrol as three examples of that network. In 2005, five homicides in the city -- all unsolved murders of young Asian men -- were gang-related. "The gangs the Guardian Angels have targeted wander the streets. Gangs in Calgary do not have turf. They don't roam the streets. They travel in cars and have cellphones to take drug orders," said Palmer. The Guardian Angels formula is simple, said Sliwa. Unarmed patrols deter crime, alert police when a crime takes place and provide medical attention to a victim when necessary. Local volunteers are put through a three-month training program that includes CPR and martial arts. Then the "cherry picking" targeting youth involved with gangs begins. "We start with the wannabes. They like the feeling of being a gang banger but don't want to go the whole nine yards. We start manipulating them, challenging them and offering them an alternative to join us," said Sliwa. The Guardian Angels "peel away the layers" by targeting prospects -- those who hot-wire cars and shake down victims to prove themselves. "They're buying into the gang thing lock, stock and barrel," he said. "The last group poses the biggest threat. They live, eat, walk and talk gang. They know it is a matter of time before they are dead or incarcerated." Sliwa admits U.S. streets have been deadly for Guardian Angels. "We had six Guardian Angels shot and killed in the line of duty," he said. "I was shot five times." Local chapters raise money for radios and the trademark red berets that cost about $7.50 US each. "We cost zip. We incur the costs in New York." Some have dismissed the Guardian Angels as a vigilante group. Recently, Sliwa was told to leave Toronto. "We're not wanted in Toronto. In Canada, that's the norm -- treating me like I was (President) George W. Bush with missiles in my pockets," he said. "Don't reject this notion simply because it's American." Still, while many Americans embrace the Guardian Angels, others like law officials in Houston express concerns. Houston's gang problems have escalated on the heels of the arrival last September of 150,000 refugees of hurricane Katrina. Invited by concerned citizens, the Guardian Angels arrived there last week to set up a chapter. "What we are not interested in is them taking matters into their own hands. I have heard that is more the rule than the exception," said Sgt. David Crain, spokesman for the Houston Police Department. That Guardian Angel volunteers are trained in martial arts leads Houston police to worry that they lean more to "intervention, rather than reporting crime to police," he said, adding citizen volunteers may expose themselves to injury and civil liability if someone is injured. Calgary's David Baxter, a father of three, initiated contact with the Guardian Angels about a year ago. "I kinda like what they do," said Baxter, a Calgarian since 1977. "When I got here, there were less than a half a million people. Nobody was afraid to go out or take the bus at night. You can't say that now." Baxter is concerned there is no one willing to tackle the gang problem. "There doesn't seem to be anyone willing to do it. There's a valid fear of repercussions," he said. After his daughter was bullied on a C-Train, Baxter researched the Internet and found the Guardian Angels. It was Baxter's call that ultimately convinced the group to come to Calgary. Madelyn McDonald, with the EXIT Outreach program which helps youth in crisis, grew up with the Guardian Angels in New York. "They are not a vigilante group. They are the eyes and ears of the community. They do good work," said McDonald, who is familiar with the drug, prostitution and gang-related activity haunting Calgary's youth. "These are citizens. They may have more impact than police in uniform." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom