1983_02 Insight February 1983

              February' 2, 1983
Insight
-OTNTERPIECE
The
Watchful
Angels
Story by FERN/\NDO QUINTERO
SAN FRANCISCO—As the time on the clock radio nears 8 p.m., a grimace
d disappointment twists 34-year-old Lester Dixon's face.
"You know bow it is when you're working with volunteers," Dixon says
Suddenly, like a circus mime, tbe corners d Dixon's mouth turn upward as
a tall, slim man rushes in to the small, cluttered df ice. Dixon turns to Chris
Smith, 20, who had been waiting faithfully since S p.m. and instructs him to put
on IBs "gear." .
A sudden surge d excitement and anticipation rushes through their bodies
like a Jdt from an electric charge.
Dixon slips his army fatigues over his Jeans while Smith tries on the different berets that hang in tbe closet.
Randy Caturay, 21, is the last to suit up in his fatigues, silk-screened
T-shirt, red Jacket, and red beret, since be was tbe last to arrive.
The Alliance d the Guardian Angels began four years ago as a 13-man
patrol in New York City's subways. Qtlling tbemsdves tbe "Magnificent 13,"
its founder Curtis Sliwa fdt that tbe group could act as a visual deterrence to
muggings. Transit police dismissed the beret-clad youths as bothersome
vigilantes, but after a mutual understanding and increased awareness by New
Memli*radtB%Gtuu-oTan Angela iuch at l>ste hope u
twice bdore attempting a crime.
a»»
"Sure Diane Feinstein don't like us," Dixon said. "She's a politician isn't
she? Naturally she's going to be neutral. I look at where she's coming from. She
doesn't want any liability for us if we get hurt or we hurt someone. She's concerned with San Francisco's image d having a past history d vigilanteism. We
aren't vigilantes. Vigilantes act as the Judge, the Jury, and the executioner. We
just stop them and call tbe cops." *»
One d the cramped dfice walls is cluttered with typed and band-written
letters praising the anti-crime group.
"We gd one letter from a Fresno woman who wanted us to start a chapter
there," Dixon Laughed. "She wrote it right after she gd mugged."
Tbe chapter leader explains that Guardian Angel chapters are formed
when a community solicits and supports one. Dixon added that his group does
not seek out cities to organize.
Dixon adjusts his red beret, with two "Afro" and "Latino" patches hand-
sewn on its side, denoting his black and Filipino background. Each member is
permitted to pin objects such as feathers, crosses, and patches to express his or
her individuality.
Walking out in front d the Golden Gate and Leavenworth Street building
which houses a YMCA and other small offices, the men stop and routinely frisk
each other for drugs and weapons. If either had been found in possession, be
would have been stripped d his "colors" on tbe spd.
« presence while out on patrol will make potential criminal* think
'Some older cops feel threatened and jealous^...  They don't get the
recognition we get.   Peopleizume upland hug and hiss us.   No one
' eve> goes up to a cop and does that.' —Dixon
York City officials, the Guardian Angels began a nationwide recruitment campaign. Currently, there are about 44 chapters nationwide, induding Puerto
Rico, and Canada.
- A Guardian Angel must be at Least 16 years dd, enrolled in school or be
employed, and have no felony convictions. Each take two safety patrols which
last four hours a week. Members go through a two-month training program
which indudes Cardio-Pulminary Resuscitation, first aid, techniques d martial arts, and bask dtizen rights. (
The San Francisco chapter, which is one and a ha If years old now, nasi
met with what the San Francisco Chronicle called "chilly indifference" by city
San Francisco Mayor Diane Feinstein and Chid d Police Corndius'Mur-
phy have both taken a neutral position toward tbe Guardian Angels.
"We do nrt support, condone, or enctxn-age ti^ Angels," said Murphy.
When the San Francisco chapter began, an artide in the Chronicle quoted
dty police dficer Bob Barry: "The Guardian Angels cor_urt r»»ws coderencw
without contacting police. We can handle the situation fine without them."'
Other Guardian Angd chapters, induding New York City and Los Angeles,
have had full support and endorsement by dty officials/
According to Fresno Police Chid George HarasenJBs department would
take the same position as San Fraricisco's, shodd a local chapter be organized
"We have specific pdicygdddines for grropwr^
said. "They would have to follow those guiddines."
The police chief said be encourages neighborhood watch-type programs
which report criminal activity rather than dtizens using physical action.
According to Hansen, a Fresno woman approached him more than a year
'sens participation group similar to theGuar-
o police on several occasions, but "it never
She is currently a suspect in the murder d a five-year-old boy in Madera
As Dixon slops a young woman to hand her a Guardian Angels fart sheet,
tbe patrol spreads out forming a ziz-iag pattern on the sidewalk.
"We do this because we don't want to look like a military line up," explains
Caturay. "It also allows people to walk through and makes our group appear
Larger."
There are only three Guardian Angels on patrol tonight. The normal
is four.
want to play Batman and Robin," says Dixon.
, brightly-lit sign reads, "Live Sex Show-Nude Girls on Stage"
serving as/an admodtive beacon to the 'Tenderloin" area.
Just west d tbe Financial District, the Tenderloin is known for its tran-
addicts, and the Greyhound bus station. Dixon explains that the
Tenderloin is a "neutral" area, meaning it's not ethnic territory, which can be
dangerous if one is not of the respective black. Latino, or Oriental races.
The first reaction towards the Guardian Angels comes from s prostitute
standing outside a busy adult book store: "I wish they could follow me all the
time," she says.
The second reaction isn't quite as positive.
Dressed in wrinkled Chino pants and a worn black leather Jacket, a young
blonde man stands slouched against a distant wall. Dixon approaches the transient and hands him a fart sheet. The man peers through his mane d tangled
locks Just enough to let the whites d bis glassy eyes show through.
"I don't need none d this f-cking sh-t," tbe man shreiks.
Despite all tbe negative comments by police about the Guardian Angels in
the local news media, Smith said he thought tbe police were cooperative and
had a positive attitude toward tbe Angels.
"Some older cops fed threatened and jealous," interjected Dixon. "They
don't get the recognition we get People come up and hug and kiss us. No one
ever goes up to a cop and does that."
Nonaggresilon b the key to the GuardUn^AHgel'* philosophy. However,
members »UU train la tbe martial arts for situations when physical restraint
may be requited.
Dixon emphasized that his group was not trying to take the police department's Job away.
"Everybody has a right to assist another human being," said Dixon.
Smith said he liked the recognition he gets from the public. He said be fdt
positive about himself when other people told him how much safer they fdt
around him.
"I really don't like going up to people, though," Smith bashfully added.
Both Smith and Caturay are criminology students at San Francisco City
College. Caturay, who wants to become a police officer, said that being s Guardian Angd is great experience for him. c
"I also fed good helping people," Caturay added. "I guess you can call us
grown up Boy Scouts."
Dixon, an Akmeda-Contra Costa transit driver, has been involved in com-
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