Guardian Angels
They’re back.
After a ten-year absence, the Guardian Angels have returned to the streets of Boston. Decked out in red silk jackets, berets, and a bunch of feathers and beads, they patrol a different neighborhood each night, hoping to suppress crime with their presence. The cops aren’t exactly thrilled with this development. As far as they’re concerned, the city needs more uniformed police officers—trained law enforcement officials with badges and guns--not a bunch of vigilantes running wild, threatening people with citizen’s arrests.
Tonight we had our first encounter with them. They called us to the Common, where they claimed to have found a man unconscious. We arrived to find the man sitting up on a bench, wondering what all the commotion was about.
“What’s the problem?” I asked the man.
He shook his head. “Nuthin’.”
“Are you sick?”
“Nope.”
“You need to go to a hospital?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Do you even know why we’re here?”
The man looked up at me. “No, I can’t say as I do. Really, I have no idea.”
I looked at a female Guardian Angel. Standing closest to the man on the ground, I guessed she was the one who'd initiated the call.
“Why’d you call for the ambulance?” I asked.
“He was unconscious. And, uh, he had a fast pulse.”
I felt the man’s wrist. His pulse was 92. Normal.
“Where are you going to stay tonight?” I asked the man.
“Pine Street Inn, I suppose.”
“You want a ride down there?”
“Sure. If you can get me one.”
“We’ll have the van come by. Wait right here, okay?”
“Sure.”
By this time, the Angels had disappeared across the park, undoubtedly looking for some other poor soul who had a problem but didn’t realize it. As we returned to the ambulance, I couldn’t help wondering: Before you call an ambulance for a complete stranger, shouldn’t you at least ask if he wants one called?
posted by TS @ 1:09 PM
11 Comments:
I am glad you wrote about the Guardian Angels. I could have guessed that the PD isn't pleased. That's to be expected and I completely understand their view. What does the general public think of them? How about EMS and Fire in the city? To me, they do not seem to be doing anything but getting in the way and potentially causing more harm by getting themselves hurt. Based on the "story telling" they did to get started years ago, I'm not sure they are an asset to the community. Perception is sometimes worth more than action, however.
I really don't know what the public thinks about them. Aside from a cover story that ran in The Boston Herald last spring, when they announced their return to the city, they seem to have stayed out of the news. This was my first encounter with them, and I haven't heard any of my coworkers discussing them, so I have to admit that they don't seem to be causing us any real problem, with the one minor exception of the unnecessary 911 call I described.
The only places I've seen them have been on Newbury Street (!) and the common, and always in the middle of the day.
I don't pretend to know the extent of their presence, but to me having 8 tough guys standing around chatting, intimidating college kids as they come out of Urban Outfitters on a saturday afternoon is a low priority when teenagers are dropping like flies across town.
Have they had any impact? I havent seen the situation change since they've been here.
Interesting. Thanks for the feedback.
Vigilantes? Heck, they're not even that good. The Vigilantes at least did something other than stand around and look concerned.
The Guardian Angels do nothing but get in the way.
This post has been removed by the author.
I'm Doc, the female Boston Guardian Angels member you wrote about. I'm sorry you felt the 911 call was made unecessarily. I made the decision to place the call based upon poor mental status, tachy HR, past medical history, lack of nutrient intake, alcohol use, and lack of access to a glucometer. I've seen people go into shock many times in similair situations, and I prefer to err on the side of caution. Suffice it to say, it saddens me that we made such a poor impression on you, and I hope that will change in the future.
The transit police is introducing them into thier well known training program, they also are friends with 4 city councelors,religious leaders, community actovist, 3 martial art instructors,red cross providing free instructor courses, thier wives hate them being in those neighborhoods unarmed and lets face it yes they can get shot so why do they do it? where since they all have full time jobs get the energy to walk the streets and go 3 times a week for training? They must realy care about trying to make a difference sine thier not getting paid to do so.
To Doc:
I just now received an email from one of your fellow Guardian Angels about this incident. He impressed me greatly with his approach, which was respectful, and suggested that he wanted to discuss the matter, rather than argue about it.
After reading his message, I believe that a lot of miscommunication occurred between us, and I am willing to admit that because of some preconceived notions of my own, I was at least partially responsible. Thank you for your calm, respectful comment. I plan to write a new entry about what I've learned from you and your colleagues, and I think it may clear the air. Please bear with me while I sort this out and write it up.
Again, thank you.
To Anonymous:
To some extent, I think you're shooting the messenger (no pun intended).
Read my post carefully. Then read my responses to readers' comments. I never really said anything bad about the Angels as a group. To the contrary, I said in one reply to a comment that "this was my first encounter with them...so I have to admit that they don't seem to be causing us any real problem."
In fact, the ONLY negative thing I said about the Angels was that they left the scene, "presumably to assist someone else who doesn't need it," or something like that. I said this in the heat of the moment, which is not the best time to write anything. In any event, it's hardly a scathing indictment of the organization.
In short, I did not "bash" the Guardian Angels at any time. If readers of this blog did so, then your issue is with them, not me.
Thanks for the input.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A GUARDIAN ANGEL WHO GOES BY THE NAME "ANGEL" WROTE THE FOLLOWING COMMENT. Because it contained confidential information about the patient who was the subject of this call, I had to edit that part of it. Also, because it's such a long message, it was difficult to read in its original form, which contained no paragraph breaks. I've therefore edited it for paragraphs and capitalization. I actively solicit the opinions of readers about this blog, and this is the ONLY time I've ever altered a comment left here. This comment has otherwise been left intact.
Since we have been around one thing that has happened in the main area we have been working on for months intensely is a change in the area of Codman Square, Bowdoin, and Talbot streets.
We have been a visual deturrent and a presence in the face of what used to be a gang paradise. We started walking streets being constantly overrun by gang youth that scared most local kids and adults alike off of the streets. From us simply sharing the streets with respect for them and thier commuity,we showed the community they can by policing thier own streets...make a change.
We trained in plain clothes off Washington Street on Wednesdays for a while just past Codman square, now 5 months ago that wouldn't have been possible from the way it used to be.
Now that we have done that the communtiy has begun to take more charge, which is our wish that they get involved! That is one of our directives is to get more people involved.
As for the patrol that night on (location deleted), the call you answered. The patient told our woman (doc) She's a trained emt herself and a member of our US coast guard. He told her he was diabetic she was merely responding to that information he gave her. As for the rest I can't say I am not her, and don't know any more than that. Any questions you might have for her I would be glad to forward (telephone number deleted). We left from there and went over to Emmerson where kids are getting jumped for money one block from thier own school for crack money,and then to some other well known drug infested areas downtown,with a quick check through the Commons.
It is said that we don't do a lot. We don't see alot of action. Well this is true we haven't seen a lot of action as far as ...."Wow look at those guardian angels over there in that big brawl!" If we are successful you will never be able to say that. We firstly are a visual deturrent, also we serve as a model of repsectable behavior. We model responsible, adult behavior, in the face of people acting out thier most adolescent behaviors. We get people yelling things at us insults and such and we respond politely and courteously
with respect modeling good back.
We have won many battles of respect in the worst neighborhoods and changed much. Not things you will always see in newspapers, we walk regularly through dorchester with Reverend Wall on his neighborhood walks.
You have been seeing us in downtown more lately yes we need to pay attention to downtown as well. You have been seeing me myself mostly downtown. I have been downtown and on two occasions when the patrol has been with me. Most of the other times you have seen me during the day is when I get right out of work. I get out of work with the Union construction job I do eight hours everyday I do some relations work answering people's questions and recruiting everyday after work for a few hours more. Mostly we are trying to get more into downtown to feel out what specific areas we need to hit. When on Newbury street we have been giving out information and recruiting. Mostly because the younger guys we need to volunteer are there. There too, are also alot of movers and shakers of Boston. People who will be talking to lots of people ,and we need to get our message out once in a while.
As far as us being vigilantes I would have to strongly disagree most of us are married and with kids. There is nothing about our guys that says "I wanna get killed tonight so my family can go hungry and live in pain". No our guys have a great deal of respect for the people we interact with and a great care for all the people we interact with even those who yell comments at us. We are a light in places of darkness. I was on patrol in NYC last weekend two girls one 19,other 21. They were gone drunk and looked like one on drugs. We heard them yelling laughing so loud. So we went on next level of platform where they were to check it out. Most people walked by no concern. We walked up talked to guys holding them up. We checked it out. They didn't know the girls! Those girls were on way to being raped these guys were taking them home. We stopped it police were called, EMTs came from police call and the girls got help. This is what we do.
Boston ....one of the Cleveland games a kid outside bar on Brookline avenue passed out can't hold his head up, eyes gone, looks like drugs maybe on way to OD. The kid is laid out on sidewalk his friend so damaged he can't even help his bud. The guy helping can't stand doesn't know where he even is. Bar owner comes right up "just wanted to tell you guys,he didn't come into my place" my question is "Ok so why not help the guy out anyways?". Two security guys right there no help. People walking by no one helps. This is part of what we do best. We are proactive in many ways to stop people from being hurt by some forethought. This kid could've at some point been thrown out into traffic his friend was trying to help him when we showed up because he didn't want him to be arrested or something (public drunkeness )so he picked him up and promptly fell to ground with his friend because he was even too drunk. So we got EMTs involved to make sure he was going to be ok. God knows what places his buddy would've gotten him into.
One time I was on corner of Mass avenue and Boylston and some guy jumps out of car and for no good reason punches kid right in face. Gets into his car and jets. A minute before when I was down road before arriving the first attack already occoured on these two. Which was a punch and a beer bottle smashed over one guys head. I saw police nearby ran for them. Waved them on and as I ran gave description of car and people and cops continued on to get them. It was a guy from RI thought it would be funny to smash some kids over head with bottle. Punch That guy's friend in nose, no warning after calling them over to car for directions. The most ironic part was the guys doing it thought they were gay bashing. From my going to police later to report details,the officer told me both guys attacked were straight. If I wasn't there the guys would have had no one to pursue for thier medical costs, one of them was visiting his friend from another city. The kid who got punched maybe weighed 125 lbs wet, about 5'8" tops. The guy who punched him was a well built maybe 180 to 200 lbs boxer type. Not exactly a fair fight.
On patrol in Dorchester one day helping Rev Wall with door to door questionaires he does we oversee his safety sometimes. A car comes fast down street, just misses a child we pull out of harms way. From this one of our guys takes a tag number down. A minute later a cruiser comes by we think hey they could sometime in future let these guys know to slow down, we are thinking we could help in the future maybe a kind word about slowing down will help him be a safer driver. Then wow the police after checking see it is a stolen car so the plot thickens....then what else might come up, stop the car. Guns? Drugs? I mean who would be driving a stolen car around?
So yeah we don't always make headlines but we do make a difference I have seen it first hand in so many good ways,that keep me wanting to make a difference. I would love to share it with anyone who wants to see how addictive helping can be. It really is a great feeling to know something no matter small you have given is making a difference in someones life directly. I was trained under Kent Scarna myslef at Boston City hospital, so I have some EMT knowledge myself.However like I said I have no idea what Doc saw as a reason to call I was around corner getting something sugary to drink before you showed.
I hope our paths cross again I would love a chance to introduce ourselves formally and talk some more about what we do. Sorry if you felt us a nuisance we try to walk carefully on others peoples jurisdiction and if we crossed some line with you let us know. We try to always show repsect to others.
Thanks for your forum. I invite any questions or concerns people may have once again please anytime call (617)282-2500 and we always need recruits we have so many programs to start Boston Chapter is still growing, so much to do yet!
Thanks again everyone god bless.
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