ANGELS TEST THEIR WINGS

Guardian Group Puts Trainees Through Paces

A thin red line wound its way through the seedier edges of downtown
Saturday as newly minted members of the Guardian Angels did one last
training patrol in advance of their graduation today.

With their trademark red berets on and Angels founder and president
Curtis Sliwa at the helm, the group of seven graduates -- and one
Angels member formerly of Toronto -- tested the skills they have
learned over the last several months of training.

Scott Sonne, a member of the Toronto chapter before moving to Calgary
in 1990, said crime in the city is escalating.

"The city is growing too fast for its own good. There are definitely
more victims now to be preyed upon."

The economic boom has brought many people to the city who believe
they can make lives for themselves here. But amongst those are people
who want to take advantage of that, said new member Greg Martin.

"With the money that's here, the criminal element sees an opportunity
to expand on their operations," he said.

At stoplights, the Angels positioned themselves back-to-back, eyes
looking in all directions to protect themselves.

Under bridges and overpasses they scoured for used needles, crack
pipes and drug stashes.

The purpose, Sliwa said, is for drug addicts to see the Angels
searching "like squirrels looking for nuts" and learn.

"They see they can't be popping their stash," he said.

Unlike the last visit, when Sliwa and another Angel took a crack pipe
from a woman's hands and crushed it, Sliwa told the new group those
"American tactics" won't be done here.

But if a member sees a glass pipe, "put it down, boots to it, boom,
you destroy it," he advised.

The angels will not be confrontational or belligerant; they will call
the police for any criminal activity or violent incidents, Sliwa explained.

Their goal is to deter crime, break up fights and keep the peace, not
deal with the social problems that lead people to lives on the streets.

"Let the professionals deal with why the furniture is upstairs and
rearranged in the wrong rooms," Sliwa said.

Passersby shouted encouragement as the Angels walked through the East
Village and along the LRT tracks.

"Go hard," one man yelled as he walked by the group, giving them a thumbs up.

Ald. Madeleine King said it is too soon to say what kind of effect
the Angels may have, but she is hopeful their work will be in
co-operation with the police.

"What we've found is the presence of some sort of uniform -- so that
people know there are eyes watching what's happening on the street --
is very helpful," she said.

"As long as that's what it does, I think it may be a contribution to
all our well-being."

The eight new Angels will graduate today and they expect to hit the
streets next week for their first official patrol.