Guardian Angels group

Last Friday evening we attended a town hall meeting in Kansas City, Kan., with the Guardian Angels (8/17, Local, “Red berets arrive with a message; The anti-crime group operates in dozens of cities and now ponders a chapter in the KC area”). We were impressed with their message and think it would be wise to consider organizing a chapter in metropolitan Kansas City.

Guardian Angels cooperate with the police and the public to take an active role in protecting and reclaiming our neighborhoods. It is a volunteer organization, and the operational cost is minimal. They do not carry weapons of any kind and have more than 20 years of service and experience.

Public outrage with the routine violence and crime in our city is joined with a feeling of powerlessness to stop it. Supporting and getting involved with the Guardian Angels is something we can do to fight crime and violence. “Improve — don’t move” was the advice of Guardian Angel founder Curtis Sliwa.

For more information, go to www.guardianangels.org or call Frank Lee, the Guardian Angel liaison to our area, at 917-334-4289.

Robert J. Wilshire and Anne McDonald
Kansas City, Kan.

I lived in New York when the Guardian Angels were organizing. At first no one knew exactly what to think of this red-beret brigade. However, as a short time passed it became very clear they were peacekeepers.

Men and women, clean, polished, polite and courteous, on subways, buses and street corners. Their numbers grew, and they quickly became an important part of the city.

Our communities need help to stop the insane and needless violence. If these fine young peacekeepers are willing to step up to the plate, please welcome them.

Michele Polivka
Kansas City

Comments

[jack]

I have said for years, "If you want to take back the streets it is only necessary for the average people to all start sitting on their front porches."

[solomon]

i grew up watching the Bowrey Boys. There was always a "copper" on the corner to keep those idiots from "busting a cap"(Robert Duvall, True Grit, 1969) in each other.

[jack]

It is the oldest type of action. Community action. When the local folks take responsibility for the streets, the streets become safe.

[Mark K]

Thank God. Maybe a group of private citizens can help make this city a safer place to live. The police would help, but they're too busy handing out speeding tickets, evicting people for eminent domain grabs for development, and writing parking tickets. Protect and Serve indeed.