Pubdate: Sun, 06 May 2007 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2007 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Jamie Hall, Edmonton Journal ANGELS TO PATROL STREETS BY FALL Volunteer Group Will Focus On Conditions Along 118th Avenue After Training Scheduled To End In August EDMONTON - The Guardian Angels could be patrolling Edmonton streets by summer's end. "We want to start training by the end of May, which means we could have people on patrol by the end of August," local organizer David Schroder says. Would-be recruits to the volunteer anti-crime group were on hand Saturday to meet Angels' founder Curtis Sliwa, who flew in from New York to attend a barbecue at the Alberta Avenue Community Centre. The Alberta Avenue neighbourhood, specifically along 118th Avenue, will initially be the group's main focus. Several residents told Sliwa stories about rising crime in the area and what they see as a flagging police presence. Sasha Goders said that 50 years ago her grandparents bought the home she now shares with her husband Darren Lamb and their three-year-old daughter, Lily. At the time, children played in the street. "Now," said Goders, a library clerk, "I look out my window and see prostitutes and drug dealers. But I never seem to see many police." Lamb, a stay-at-home dad, said "I'm the one who ends up chasing them away." He filled out an application to join the group. About 15 to 25 people have expressed interest in becoming Guardian Angels, said Schroder, who hopes to assemble a group of eight to 12 volunteers. Dan Marsh, a 38-year-old steel fabricator, said he wants to join because "anything that will help to get rid of some of the crime, I'm all for it." Allen St. Arbaud, a Guardian Angel in Montreal for about a year 17 years ago, said he moved to Edmonton two months ago, "but I already see the need for (the Angels)." Ed Campbell, 71, said he still isn't sure about the role the group should play. "I say leave it to the police to do the policing," said Campbell, who lives on the south side. "But I'm here to listen to (Sliwa)." Sliwa talked about the group's work in Calgary, where it has operated for two months, patrolling a downtown area he described as "a seething cesspool of drugs and criminal activity." Their volunteers are a help by calming potentially violent situations and calling police when necessary, not vigilantes, he said. "What we do is mostly psychological," he said. "Our presence is what keeps situations from escalating." Mayor Stephen Mandel and police Chief Mike Boyd said last year the Guardian Angels are not needed or wanted in Edmonton. But Calgary Mayor David Bronconnier has said he has no problem with volunteer groups offering help to police. Vancouver greeted news of a chapter enthusiastically, and city officials offered to do background checks on prospective volunteers. Merv Swityk, the past president of Neighbourhood Watch for Edmonton, said the Angels aren't the vigilantes they're sometimes made out to be. "I think we need their support. We have to take our communities back." Sliwa will lead Edmonton recruits and members of the Calgary chapter on a street patrol along 118th Avenue this morning to show prospective members how it's done. "They can see if (being an Angel) is gonna be their cup of tea or not," said Sliwa. "We want people to commit to the whole nine yards." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek