Published: October 19, 2008 10:49 pm      

Do you believe in angels?

Group looks to establish chapter in Meridian

The first thing that sticks out about Bennie Jones, Lamar Holmes, Fred Harvey and Arlena Perry as they walked through a Meridian neighborhood this weekend: the red berets they wore on their heads.

A question quickly comes to mind as to why a group of middle-aged people would wear the berets, the white shirts with Guardian Angels Safety Patrol and bright red jackets. The answer, to them, is very simple: It is because they dare to care.

"We want to try and start a chapter here in Meridian," said Jones, who along with the other three members of the Jackson Guardian Angels Chapter traveled to Meridian to meet with some community leaders. "We don't know what kind of crime Meridian has but that's not the point. The point is we have so much more to offer the community in terms of anti-crime education, youth programs and the web based CyberAngels that focuses on on-line abuse."

The Guardian Angels is a non-profit, international, volunteer organization of unarmed citizen crime patrollers. The organization was founded February 13, 1979 in New York City by Curtis Sliwa and has chapters in 11 countries (in over 100 cities) around the world. Sliwa originally created the organization to combat widespread violence and crime on the New York City subways. But in the years since it has grown to address issues such as online sexual predators, bullying and other Internet based abuses that especially target children.

In 1998, CyberAngels received a Presidential Service Award.

Members of the Jackson chapter since 1982, Jones, Holmes and Harvey are seasoned veterans of conducting neighborhood watch patrols and monitoring cyber abuses. In Jackson, where the crime rate is easily the highest in the state and among the highest in the Southeast, the three men have just about seen it all.

"The key is to not show fear," said Holmes, who works for the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson. "We won't hesitate to patrol down any street in Jackson."

Jones said he hopes that through the contacts they are acquiring in Meridian, such as Pastor Amos S. Powell of the Fresh Fire Kingdom Fellowship Church on Eighth Street, the group can meet with city and civic leaders in a couple of weeks about establishing a chapter here locally.

"We have a lot to offer," Jones said. "In addition to Jackson, there is a chapter in Gulfport and we are trying to get a chapter started in Vicksburg."

The original and main Guardian Angels activity is "Safety Patrol" in which members walk the streets or ride transit. Guardian Angels must be in uniform to represent the organization. They can be identified by their red berets and red jackets or white t-shirts with the Guardian Angels logo of an eye inside a shield with wings. Chapters operate similar to franchise networks supporting one another regionally under standard rules, regulations, and training.

Jones said that so far they have been well received by the community and city leaders. Police departments have also embraced the neighborhood patrols as it gives law enforcement authorities extra sets of eyes and ears on the streets.

But maybe the most important aspect of having normal citizens lead by example through their participation in the organization is the impression it leaves on the children.

"It influences the very young in a positive manner," said Harvey. "So many times inner city kids see only the dope dealers, gangbangers and prostitutes. With the Guardian Angels they see hope and someone who cares about them."

And that is the main reason why Perry joined the organization almost a year ago.

"We want to make the neighborhoods safe for everyone," she said.