MIDVALE — The international nonprofit group Guardian Angels made its debut in Utah on Tuesday in a small martial arts studio, Wing Chun Hall.

The only way for Utah to keep its neighborhoods and cities free from fear and crime is for all residents to take notice and be aware of their surroundings, speakers said at the establishment of the new Salt Lake City chapter.

The Guardian Angels "are going to give us an opportunity to take back the streets," said Utah House Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, representing the Legislature's support of the new chapter. "There are certain areas of Salt Lake City where you would not feel comfortable walking when it's dark. It's time to take that back from the criminal element. It's time for the criminals to be afraid."

The Guardian Angels chose to start a chapter in Utah after receiving requests from private citizens, said Guardian Angels regional coordinator Frank Lee. The group also heard concerns about Pioneer Park and knew local law enforcers and legislators were on their side.

"Why Salt Lake City?" Lee said. "I even laughed. 'Isn't that, like, "Leave it to Beaver" land?' I thought.... It's not really that bad, but I see the potential."

Lee pointed to Salt Lake City's proximity to California and the fact that I-80, which he called a major drug corridor, runs through the city to explain that Utah could have a more severe gang problem at any time.

Crime is rising rapidly in Utah and across the nation, Wimmer said. As a former police officer, he said he knows law enforcement alone can't solve the problem.

"Just because citizens delegate their right to protection (to police officers) does not mean they gave it up," he said. "The Guardian Angels are welcome in Utah, in my book."

The Guardian Angels organization was founded in 1979 by a New York City restaurant manager hoping to make a subway train dubbed "mugger's express" safer, Lee told the crowd. The man and his employees banded together and created an all-races, police-friendly neighborhood protection organization.

From there, the group expanded into New Jersey and Los Angeles. The group now boasts 86 chapters in the United States and also chapters from Israel to Japan, to South America, Canada and St. Croix.

"Our number one martial art is verbal judo," Lee said, explaining that the group does not carry weapons. "Talk to a person like a human being and he'll respond like a human being." To participate, call organizer Randy Harrison at 801-259-1333 or visit www.guardianangels.org.

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