New York's Guardian Angels to patrol Ogden streets tonight

A non-profit organization recognized for helping to clean the crime off of New York City's streets 30 years ago is now hitting the streets of cities along the Wasatch Front with the same purpose.

The Guardian Angels is opening a chapter in Salt Lake City and Ogden with a goal of keeping the areas clean and clear of violence and drugs.

"We're here based on the people's (need) for us the past eight months," said Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels CEO and Founder, in an interview with the Deseret Morning News. "Pioneer Park, Liberty Park, the TRAX system, and Ogden have been brought to our attention."

In groups of four or more the Guardian Angels patrol dangerous zones, breaking up fights, stopping drug deals, and putting fighters and dealers under citizen arrest.

"If there's a fight, the guys are sluggin' away, we're there breaking it up," said Sliwa in his thick Brooklyn accent. "It's everyone's right to make citizen arrests. We'll slam you and jam you and hold you until the police arrive."

The group started in 1979 when Sliwa worked as a manager at a McDonald's in the Bronx. Seeing criminal activity constantly inside and outside of the restaurant, Swila formed a 13-man band that took to the streets of New York, weaponless, with the intent to stop crime. During the initial launch of the group, Swila and his crew were repeatedly mistaken for criminals.

"The first two years it was misery," said Sliwa. "I was arrested 76 times, and got lots of wooden shampoos and concrete facials from the cops. In '93 it turned around, Rudy (Giuliani) said, 'from now on we're going to work with the Guardian Angels.'"

The group now has chapters in nine countries and 86 cities throughout the world. Salt Lake is looking to make that number rise.

Salt Lake resident Joshua Tso recently completed a required three-month Guardian Angel training in New Orleans. The training includes CPR, martial arts, self defense, and a knowledge of the laws. Tso will head up the Salt Lake chapter of Guardian Angels, and is looking for recruits.

"Something needs to be done. This is it I feel," said Tso at a press conference Thursday morning in Pioneer Park. "If there had been a group of us around the corner at Trolley Square or at the Ogden wedding, (the shootings) may not have happened." Two people died in an Ogden shooting at a wedding party earlier this month and five people died after being confronted by a gunman at Trolley Square in February. The gunman was killed by responding Salt lake officers and an an off-duty Ogden officer who happened to be dining at the mall.