Pocono News Section

Guardian Angels Look to Form Wilkes-Barre Chapter

Guardian Angels Look to Form Wilkes-Barre Chapter - Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:26PM EST

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 @10:26pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY-

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa told a somewhat small crowd about the battle on the streets. Most say they've seen a change in their neighborhood over the last few years. “I live here. I've been watching the city go down, straight downhill and someone's gotta do something.” Eric Triani is giving the angels his application.

With reports of increased crime, a rising narcotics trade and gang activity, there's movement to launch a Wilkes-Barre chapter.

Curtis Sliwa Guardian Angels Founder, tells us “It's time they scraped the barnacles off their backside, turn off the boob tube, go out in the streets. If it's not Guardian Angels, joining a block watch, making a difference.

The Guardian Angels patrol. They're not armed and don't pretend to be police. They're goal is to work alongside law enforcement.

“I think they're going to let the criminals know there are a lot of good guys out there, and there's a lot less bad guys and we're going to win.” Stresses Charlotte Raup of the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch.

The Guardian Angels have been fighting crime since the late '70s.

Nearly two years ago, Sliwa brought his message to the heavily populated a Pocono Country. There, most downplayed the gangs and drugs as teenager's problems.

But in Wilkes-Barre, the crowd was open about troubles in town.

Sliwa says they've found the old-school approach is what works best “It's time to literally get out there, do old things that grandparents used to do without red berets and red satin jackets”