CRIME FIGHTERS COMING

Guardian Angels to Gauge Interest in Forming Chapters in Sask.

The tough-on-crime Guardian Angels, bedecked in conspicuous red
berets, are coming to Saskatoon and Regina this summer to gauge
interest in having them patrol the streets with their imposing methods.

Critics accuse the group of doling out vigilante justice, while some
civil liberties associations believe the hands-on approach -- seizing
drugs and paraphernalia -- infringes on rights.

Others welcome the added presence of anyone focused on reducing
crime.

Vigilantism be damned, says Saskatoon city councillor and police
commissioner Myles Heidt. "I'm really not concerned about that
(vigilantism) and I'm not too concerned about the criminals," he said.
"Let's start thinking about the victims and what they've gone through,
what they've suffered. We don't seem to be going in the right
direction these days."

The Guardian Angels organization was formed in New York during the
crime-ridden 1970s. Despite the controversy, their success has spawned
more than 20 chapters around the world and made founder Curtis Sliwa a
target of mafioso John Gotti Jr. on two occasions.

Chapters are planned for Toronto (launching in July), Calgary
(August), Vancouver (August) and possibly Edmonton. Now, the Angels
are flying into Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

"We've been contacted by people in Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg, so
we're planning to come through in August, once we have those other
chapters up and running," said Sliwa.

"You may not have a problem as vast as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary or
Vancouver, but there is a problem. We're the antidote to that," he
added in a gruff Brooklyn accent.

Sliwa cited home invasions and knifings in Saskatoon, homicides in
Regina and a growing gang and drug problem in Saskatchewan's biggest
cities as concerns brought to his attention. Violent crime, gang
activity and drug use have been on the rise in Saskatoon, prompting
city councillors to ponder a youth curfew, a bylaw banning knives in
public and a prohibition on gang colours being worn in civic facilities.

"If they (the Guardian Angels) can help make our parks and streets
safer, then I'm all for it," Heidt said. "Especially when it's
volunteers, there's no cost to the city. Why wouldn't we want it?" The
Guardian Angels are entirely self-funded, requiring nothing from any
level of government, Sliwa said.

The Saskatoon Police Service is open to meeting with the Guardian
Angels.

"Should they ever come here, we would need to hear from them about
what they wanted to do," said police spokesperson Alyson Edwards. "We
would be willing to meet with them and discuss their plans."

"We will definitely set up meetings with officials (in Saskatoon). We
want them to see we're not a horde of Hells Angels," said Sliwa, who
is pleased by how open-minded public offi - cials have been compared
to those in other centres.

"We've been ostracized to the point where it's embarrassing. We're
treated like flea bags. You'd think we were al-Qaida operatives," he
said, noting a distinct difference between eastern and western Canada.

"Once you go east of Winnipeg, you'd think we were advocating an
insurrection."

Still, the Angels have rounded up enough volunteers to establish a
chapter in the country's largest city. Members are local volunteers
put through a three-month training program that includes instruction
in first aid, legal rights and martial arts.

Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison admitted to not knowing much about the
Angels. He noted other initiatives in place, such as the Community
Watch program and citizens' patrols in neighbourhoods where residents
have taken it upon themselves to supervise streets and parks.

The Angels take those programs to a higher level, employing the legal
powers possessed by all residents to confront, apprehend and place
offenders under citizens' arrest. They usually operate in groups of
six to 10, which gives them a strong presence, Sliwa said.

Populations have swelled while policing resources have not, leaving
law enforcement "a dollar short and a day late," said Sliwa.

A 2005 audit indicated the Saskatoon Police Service had a shortage of
28 front-line officers -- a number that could spike in the next few
years as several officers reach retirement age.

The service is presently welcoming 22 new constables, which is the
largest-ever graduating class of new recruits for the city, Atchison
pointed out. The force is also implementing a flex shift to put extra
officers on patrol on certain evenings when call loads are highest.

Deterrence can also be achieved without additional offi - cers,
Atchison said, suggesting unused patrol cars be parked in visible
areas to give the impression of a police presence. A dummy could be
placed inside to make it look as though an officer is in the car, he
added. Even if the policing numbers can be boosted, traditional
methods of combating gangs are failing, Sliwa said. Police would rely
on youths to rat out each other but they're not so willing now because
the consequences can be fatal. "Snitches get stitches and end up in
ditches," said Sliwa.