The street protectors known as the Guardian Angels are now doing something they haven’t done in decades.
They are back in NYC patrolling the subways, where recent slashings are said to have increased. The New Post reported, “The city on Sunday saw its sixth and seventh subway slashings in less than a month — and the terrifying spree has inspired the Guardian Angels to resume patrols not seen since the Big Apple’s bad old days.”
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said the reason for the slashings are likely a result from crowded trains and mentally ill civilians, and the Guardian Angels hope to help bring these civilians into the custody of police.
The last time they patrolled the NYC subways was in 1994, making it almost 2 decades since their presence has been felt in New York.
Wearing red berets and red jackets, the Guardian Angels are unarmed and strictly patrolling the subways to assist in bringing down crime.
Anti-crime activist, and the head of the Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa, has brought his group of volunteers day and night to supplement a police presence he says, is simply not sufficient.
“Riders are coming up and asking us: ‘Please, you’ve got to come back in force,'” Sliwa, who founded the group in 1979, told the NY Post. “I think it’s become obvious that the police need help, the MTA needs help. They can’t handle it.”
There have been six subway slashings since New Years, and on the subway system on any given weekday serves 5.5 million people, so this additional help certainly can’t hurt.
Do you think the Guardian Angels will help bring down crime in NYC? Would you feel safer with them on the subways?
Please SHARE your thoughts with us in the comments and watch this video of the Guardian Angels below:
[Featured Image Credit: Matthew McDermott/Polaris]