GUARDIAN ANGELS' VISIT DRAWS MIXED REVIEWS IN FOREST LAWN

Anti-Crime Group Looks At Setting Up Calgary Chapter

Ernie Shymka, owner of the Town and Country Motor Hotel in Forest
Lawn, says he'd welcome a Calgary chapter of the Guardian Angels with
open arms.

"This is the focal point of evil in Calgary," Shymka told Curtis
Sliwa, the founder of the U.S.-based anti-crime group, who was
touring the area surrounding the "T&C" on Sunday.

Known for problems with prostitution and drugs, the area was targeted
along with the East Village and downtown C-Train platforms as part of
a three-day assessment on the possibility of setting up a branch of
Guardian Angels in the city.

"I've been involved with the Town and Country for 25 years and I've
really seen things decline in this area," said Shymka. "The police
can't always come. (The Guardian Angels) might just be a Band-Aid
because they have no real powers but it's something."

Sliwa said he was shocked by what he's seen in Calgary.

During a visit to sites in East Village known as "Crack Cul-de-Sac"
and "Needle Park" on Saturday, he was taken aback by the open drug use.

"We did a circle around City Hall. It was the circle of dope, the
Amsterdam of Alberta," said Sliwa. "We saw junkies just laying out
there shooting up. They do this boldly. I think they've been doing it
so long they think it's their right."

Dressed in trademark red berets and matching jackets, Sliwa and two
members of the Denver chapter toured the area around 17th Avenue and
50th Street S.E. Sunday morning, handing out information pamphlets to
passersby and local businesses.

Sliwa founded the group in New York in 1979 to conduct unarmed
patrols to deter crime, alert police when a crime takes place and
provide medical attention to a victim when necessary.

The Guardian Angels now have chapters in 60 cities across six
countries. Local volunteers are put through a three-month training
program that includes CPR and martial arts.

Sliwa said he received at least 28 requests to consider starting a
chapter in Calgary.

"I'd like to be a volunteer for sure," said Forest Lawn resident
Steve Bernier. "I walk the beat around here already looking for
stupid people."

Not everyone, however, was enthused with the group's presence in the
city.

A Forest Lawn resident who lived and worked in New York 15 years ago
and has a background in law enforcement said the Guardian Angels are
just another gang.

"They are out-and-out vigilantes who don't report to anyone but
themselves," said Jim, who didn't want to give his last name.
"They're a bunch of thugs. Why would you want to use a gang to stop
another gang?

"If you bring in the Guardian Angels, only one thing will happen: the
drug dealers will protect their turf with guns and will start
shooting people they think are giving information."

Sliwa received a cold response in Toronto earlier this year when
police and the mayor refused to meet with him. The Houston Police
Department was also not interested in the group's help following a
rise in gang problems after the arrival of refugees from hurricane
Katrina.

Sliwa, who is also considering a new chapter in Edmonton, will meet
with Calgary police Insp. Bob Couture at City Hall today.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier said Sunday he is also willing to meet with
the group to discuss the city's crime trends.

"If they have a good idea, I'd listen. Why not?" Bronconnier said.

"If they have an idea to make our city safer . . . yes, I would
absolutely sit down with them."