Pubdate: Sun, 07 May 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: Sherri Zickefoose
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)

GUARDIAN ANGELS SCOUT CITY FOR SUPPORT

Founder Of U.S. Anti-Crime Group Meets Monday With Calgary Police

A Saturday afternoon inner-city tour began with a drug addict 
screaming for her confiscated box cutter and a crack pipe ripped from 
a woman's hands, and ended at a peaceful pro-pot rally.

Welcome to Calgary, Guardian Angels.

Curtis Sliwa, the U.S.-based founder of the anti-crime group, toured 
the East Village at the start of a three-day assessment to try 
setting up a Calgary chapter.

"This is New York City Times Square circa 1989," Sliwa said as he and 
two chapter members from Denver fearlessly approached drug addicts 
and dealers under bridges, at the Riverfront Avenue park near the 
Calgary Drop-In Centre and at the infamous "Crack Cul-de-Sac" at 4th 
Street and 8th Avenue S.E.

Clad in their trademark matching red berets and jackets, the trio's 
assertiveness in the greenspace known as "Needle Park" brought on a 
slew of racial slurs and profanities. But Sliwa said by striding 
directly up to drug users huddled in groups, the unarmed men 
delivered their message.

"Is this yours?" he asked an agitated and twitching young woman after 
grabbing a box cutter off the ground near the Salvation Army Centre of Hope.

The rail-thin and dishevelled woman screamed profanities and threats 
but Sliwa stood his ground.

"Do you use it for protection?" he said, tossing the confiscated 
knife out of her reach. "That can be used as a weapon."

A few metres away, Sliwa and Gray Fowler wrestled a lighter and a 
crack pipe from a woman's hands. Fowler crushed the pipe under his 
black leather boot.

The Guardian Angels have chapters in 60 cities in six countries. For 
27 years, the non-profit group that some call vigilantes has worked 
to deter street crime. Volunteers take a three-month training program 
that includes CPR and martial arts.

Sliwa said at least 28 Calgarians requested the Guardian Angels come 
to Alberta. After his Calgary tour, he'll visit Edmonton.

"I wouldn't have expected to see this," said Sliwa, who recalls a far 
smaller "cowboy town" when he lectured at Mount Royal College in the 
late 1980s and in 1991.

On Monday, Sliwa will meet with the Calgary Police Service in hopes 
of gaining their support.

"There's no police department, no matter how sophisticated, no matter 
how many members, has enough men and women to be every place and 
everywhere at the same time," Sliwa said.

Calgary police run Block Watch, Neighbourhood Watch and Radio Patrol 
programs, but have welcomed the meeting, said spokesman Robert Palmer.

Monday's city council meeting will debate a proposal backed by Mayor 
Dave Bronconnier to spend $15.7 million on public safety initiatives 
to make downtown and the Beltline safer.

Janet Saretsky, who owns a business across from the Cecil Hotel, is 
one of the people who asked the Guardian Angels to visit Calgary.

"I used to be scared, but now I'm angry," she said. "These guys are necessary."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom