Tag Seattle Police Department

Phoenix Jones Fights Villains With a Taser, But Zetaman Thinks That’s None Too Safe
Originally posted: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703408604576164641263773656.html
By ASHBY JONES

“Superhero’ Phoenix Jones, top, uses a cell phone to help monitor possible crimes.

SEATTLE—Life isn’t easy for the self-proclaimed superhero who calls himself “Phoenix Jones, Guardian of Seattle.” A 22-year-old day-care worker by day, he dons a black-and-gold costume by night to harass drug dealers and break up street fights.
But he’s having a harder time dealing with his latest nemeses: members of the “Real Life Superhero” (RLSH) movement.
This world-wide collection mainly of grown men with names like Zetaman, Knight Owl, Dark Guardian, and Mr. Raven Blade, have taken to grumbling about Mr. Jones, who has recently been getting more publicity than they do, partly because of his aggressive style.
The RLSHers, many of whom stick to charitable works like delivering food to the homeless, are concerned that Mr. Jones’s physical approach might not reflect well on the superhero community, which has worked hard to convince people that it isn’t just a group of comic-book geeks with inflated notions of their own importance but, rather, a force for good in the world.
“For the first time, we have someone who agrees with our overall purpose but doesn’t agree with our methods,” says Knight Owl, a Portland, Ore., member of the RLSH world who, like the others, refuses to give out his real name.
“I suppose it was bound to happen, but it’s definitely a growing pain within the community.”
Mr. Jones, who declined to allow his real name to be published but whose back story checks out, dismisses the criticism. “I may be eccentric, but I’m not crazy,” he says. “I really am here to help the people of Seattle.”
Real Life Superheroes, who seem to favor masks and dark clothing—sometimes emblazoned with homemade logos (like the Superman “S”)—exist in pockets all over the world. Some, like Knight Owl and Thanatos, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, typically focus on charitable activities.
Others, such as New York’s Dark Guardian, patrol areas known for drug activity—a bit like the city’s old subway-riding Guardian Angels. Dark Guardian shines lights and takes videos to try to deter crime nonviolently, and he makes emergency calls to 911.
“Mostly, they’re relatively normal people trying to help out and have a little fun along the way,” says Tea Krulos, a Milwaukee writer working on a book about them.
Phoenix Jones is different. In the 10 months since he became prominent, he has shown a willingness to thrust himself into dangerous situations.
A mixed martial-arts fighter, he broke his nose last month while breaking up a fight, and he says he has been shot and stabbed, too. He often travels with a posse, sometimes carries a Taser nightstick and tear gas, and repeatedly has himself been mistaken for a criminal.
One Friday night, Mr. Jones and several sidekicks—two quiet men called Buster Doe and Pitch Black; a young woman named Blue Sparrow; and a superhero-in-training called Ski Man—spent several hours making the rounds on the streets of Seattle.
Mr. Jones posed for the occasional cellphone photo with revelers outside night spots in several popular neighborhoods. But, he says, the attention “distracts me from my mission.”
Outside a bar, Mr. Jones chastised a man for yelling at a downtrodden passerby.
“Let’s keep it cool; let’s all have a good night,” he said to the man, who quickly backed down.
From there, Mr. Jones chatted up late-night loiterers in areas known for drug dealing. “Stay safe tonight,” he said. “Stay warm.”
Later, the superheroes ran after a swerving car, suspecting a drunk driver, but the car raced away and, alas, they can’t fly. Capes, also, are unfashionable in the superhero world: “They get caught on everything,” says Mr. Raven Blade.
Little crime-fighting took place that night. “That’s the thing,” concedes Mr. Jones. “When there’s nothing going on, you feel pretty silly in this outfit,” he says, referring to his costume, which he says is equipped with the latest body armor.
Detective Mark Jamieson, spokesman for the Seattle Police Department, applauds citizens’ willingness to get involved in their communities and says the department has received 911 calls from Mr. Jones.
But he worries about things getting out of hand. “Our concern is that if it goes badly, then we wind up getting called anyway, and we may get additional victims.”
It’s that kind of scenario that frightens other RLSHers.
“Whether intentionally or not, he’s representing the [superhero] community now,” says Knight Owl. “And that makes some people nervous.”
Mr. Jones says the RLSH group initially resented his quick move into the spotlight, and blackballed him when he later tried to make nice. So Mr. Jones ultimately started his own group, called the Rain City Superheroes. He says the group’s mission is decidedly different from the agenda of the RLSH gang.
“Handing out food to the homeless is an entirely worthy thing to do,” he says. “But it’s not what superheroes do. If you’re going to drive a fire truck, people are going to expect you to put out fires. If you dress up like a superhero, people are going to expect you to fight crime.”
Last month, in an effort to patch things up, members of the two groups met up in Seattle and went on a late-night patrol of the city.
According to Mr. Jones and others present, the night didn’t go entirely smoothly. At a coffee shop following the patrol, Mr. Jones and Zetaman, a Portland superhero, argued over Mr. Jones’s approach. Zetaman declined to comment. But on his blog, he recounted telling Mr. Jones: “[A]ll of us are afraid of one day someone is going to get killed and it’ll be all over.”
Added Zetaman: “I don’t need this kind of macho c— in my life and I don’t need to prove myself to anyone, least of all to Phoenix Jones and his Rain City Superhero Movement.”
The night of the patrol, Zetaman left the group early and went back to his hotel.
Responds Mr. Jones: “I don’t see the point in handing sandwiches to homeless people in areas in which the homeless are getting abused, attacked, harassed by drug dealers.”
Since then, the two groups—the Rain City Superheroes and the Real Life Superheroes—have pretty much gone their separate ways.
“We’re not one giant family,” says Knight Owl. “After all, we’re a colorful collection of individuals. We’re superheroes.”
Write to Ashby Jones at [email protected]

Originally posted: http://www.insideedition.com/news/5801/nationwide-phenomenon-real-life-superheroes-fighting-crime.aspx
They are part of a bizarre new nationwide phenomenon. Self-proclaimed “real-life superheroes” are patrolling the streets and making their neighborhoods safer.
There is a spate of real-life superheroes cropping up across the nation, including the Dark Guardian in New York City, Phoenix Jones in Seattle, and Knight Vigil in Tampa.
A young woman named Nyx patrols in northern New Jersey, Boston has a guy called Civitron, and someone calling himself DC’s Guardian protects Washington, D.C., and there are plenty of others.
“If you have to be a little eccentric, you have to be a little eccentric,” says Phoenix Jones.
Phoenix tells INSIDE EDITION his rubber costume is stab-proof and he has a bulletproof vest underneath. The outfit has other practical functions.
“I need a symbol that’s readily identifiable to police that says, ‘Hey, I’m not a bad guy,’ and I also need to cover my identity,” he explains.
Like every good superhero, Jones has a sidekick for backup. She calls herself Blue Sparrow.
The Dark Guardian is actually 26-year-old martial arts instructor Christopher Pollak. He says his costume is an attention-grabber on the streets of New York City.
“I could do everything I do in regular clothes, but I do it with my superhero persona. It helps me to reach out to people more and get out that positive message that there’s a hero in everybody,” explains Pollak.
But is this whole real-life superhero bit a big joke?
“It is absolutely not a prank. It’s all for real, and we’re going out there trying to do good,” says Pollak.
The website reallifesuperheroes.com insists, “These are not ‘kooks in costumes,’ as they may seem at first glance.” It points out that they also do things like helping the homeless.
Things can get dangerous for the amateur crime fighters. In a scene from a new documentary movie called Superheroes (superheroesthemovie.com), the Dark Guardian confronts a man he believes is a drug dealer, a guy who towers over him.
“You a cop? You better…you better have a badge, man. If you don’t have a badge, don’t come over here [expletive] with me, man. All right? Mind your [expletive] business, all right?” the alleged drug dealer said.
“This is my business,” replied the Dark Guardian.
Despite his tough talk, the suspect left the scene.
Phoenix Jones recently had his nose broken, and was also threatened with a gun. That time he called 911.
Phoenix Jones: “Hey, I’m reporting an assault in the street. The guy tried to…said he was going to shoot me.”
911 Operator: “What color clothing are you wearing?”
Phoenix Jones: “I’m wearing a gold and black rubber suit.”
911 Operator: “OK, are you guys part of the Superheroes?”
Phoenix Jones: “Yes.”
Seattle police aren’t exactly thrilled about the whole superhero idea, and say they should leave the crime fighting to the authorities.
But Pollak shrugs off the critics. “Some people may think it’s crazy but anybody I help is usually grateful. They don’t care what I’m wearing,” he says.
Pollak says he knows life is not a comic book and he always calls 911 when things get out of hand.
The website reallifesuperheroes.com has 53 different caped crusaders listed.

Originally posted: http://www.wtsp.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=168610
(USA Today) — Seattle’s self-proclaimed crime-fighting “superhero” got his nose broken over the weekend while trying to break up a fight while making his nightly rounds in mask and costume, KOMO-TV reports.
Phoenix Jones, the pseudonym of the caped crusader who leads the band of superheroes, tells KOMO that he had called 911 and was holding a man in a headlock when a second man pulled out a gun.
When Jones released the first bad guy, that man promptly kicked Jones in the face.
KOMO says some police officers are uneasy with the superhero gang and have confused some of them with real criminals. To avoid a mixup, Seattle police put out a bulletin in November to alert officers.
Police say they would prefer that the superheroes simply call 911 if they spot a crime in progress and not try to tackle it themselves.
“Does Superman get his ass kicked?” one detective said to KOMO. “These people should not be called superheroes.”
Jones, who claims that his team has either military or police training, started his crime-fighting ways after a friend of his was beaten up on the street.

Originally posted: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/113246859.html

By Luke Duecy & KOMO Staff January 10, 2011

Originally posted: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/real-life-superhero-stops-car-robbery-seattle-20110107-111314-082.html
By Michael Bolen | Daily Brew – Fri, 7 Jan 2:13 PM EST
If you thought superheroes were only found on the silver screen or in comic books, think again. Superheroes are real — just ask Phoenix Jones, the Guardian of Seattle. Phoenix, a costumed hero operating in Washington state, grabbed headlines this week after he stopped a car robbery in progress.
Operating out of a comic book shop, Phoenix is a member of the Rain City Superheroes, itself part of the wider real-life superhero movement.
That’s right, there are many people who dress in costumes and patrol the streets of their cities and towns. You can find a number of Canadian crime-fighters in the World Superhero Registry, including Vancouver’s Thanatos, who was profiled by The Globe and Mail in 2009.
According to Seattle police, the Rain City group includes Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, Penelope and Phoenix Jones himself. A hero name Red Dragon has also appeared with the group.
Phoenix and his team have been garnering attention for months now. Back in November, online paper seattlepi.com reported that police were well aware of the operations of the band of heroes.
And while police are tolerating their actions, they warn that the heroes may be putting themselves in grave danger. Phoenix claims he has been stabbed in the line of work and the bullet proof vest he wears under his suit stopped a bullet during an incident in Tacoma, Wash. last year. Police have not confirmed his claims.
They have, however, determined Phoenix’s secret identity, but have so far declined to disclose it to the public. Phoenix and his group appear to have nothing but good things to say about the authorities.
In an interview today with Good Morning America, Phoenix said, “We want to have a great relationship with police and we also want to help them as much as possible.”

Originally posted: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344136/Phoenix-Jones-Real-life-superhero-chases-car-thief-Seattle.html
. . . and the bullet-proof crimebuster isn’t alone – there are NINE of them patrolling streets!
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:29 PM on 6th January 2011
Residents of Lynnwood in Washington can sleep safely in their beds, knowing that their streets are being protected by… Phoenix Jones.
The city, just north of Seattle, is part of the patrolling zone of a self-styled superhero who roams the streets in search of injustice.
In a real-life version of the 2010 film Kick-Ass – where a mild-mannered school student transforms himself into a masked crusader – Phoenix Jones has taken the law into his own gloved hands and is spending his time cleaning up the suburban streets.
Rumours of the costumed crimefighter – and others like him – began to surface as residents spoke of unconfirmed sightings around the streets.
Then a Lynwood local, who only wanted to be identified as Dan, had a first-hand meeting.
Dan said he was returning to a parking lot on Sunday evening when he spotted a ‘bad guy’ trying to break in to his car with a piece of metal.
Dan said: ‘He started sticking it down between the window and the rubber strip.’
Dan said he started dialling 911 but – before he could even finish dialling the three-digit number – help arrived in the most unlikely form.
He said: ‘This guy comes dashing in, wearing this skin-tight rubber, black and gold suit, and starts chasing him away.’
Dan admitted that he had not heard of the strange avenger working Lynnwood’s streets, and also admitted that he didn’t want to report the sighting because his friends told him he must have been drunk.
But he is not the only one to have seen a real-life superhero – the comic-book vigilantes are known to police.
A Seattle Police Department spokesman confirmed that there is a band of do-gooders who are known as the Rain City Superhero Movement, and have identified at least nine members.
Phoenix Jones, who came to Dan’s aid, is just one member of the group. He is joined by – believe it or not – Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88 and Penelope.
In what could turn out to be the rise of the obligatory comic-book super villain, police have been told by the group to disregard Captain Ozone or Knight Owl – because they are not part of the movement.
And don’t get your hopes up about the gadget-bristling Jonesmobile either.
Police say Phoenix is driven around in a Kia – by a female sidekick who doesn’t get out of the vehicle.
Local KIRO 7 TV reporter Monique Ming Laven met Phoenix Jones, and there’s more to the anonymous crimefighter than just a snazzy pair of tights.
His suit incorporates a bulletproof vest, trauma plating on his arms and legs and other sensitive areas.
His utility belt, to borrow a phrase from fellow crimefighter Batman, includes a Taser, Mace and tear gas.
Phoenix said: ‘“When I walk into a neighbourhood, criminals leave because they see the suit.
‘I symbolize that the average person doesn’t have to walk around and see bad things and do nothing.’
Phoenix said since he started his crime-fighting crusade nine months ago, he’s been stabbed, and had a gun pulled on him a few times, but received no serious injuries.
Police department spokesman Jeff Kappel said: ‘There’s nothing wrong with citizens getting involved with the criminal justice process – as long as they follow it all the way through.
He said police would prefer that people call 911 and be good witnesses, rather than getting involved personally and risk injury or death.
Phoenix Jones agreed, saying that crimefighting wasn’t for the weak-hearted.
He said: ‘I don’t condone people walking around on the street with masks. Everyone on my team either has a military background or a mixed martial arts background, and we’re well aware of what its costs to do what we do.’

Originally posted: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/110685494.html
By Luke Duecy
In the middle of our interview in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, a scream in the distance sends Phoenix sprinting across a parking lot and peering down onto a street below.
He takes stock of the fight happening a block away, but quickly determines that it’s just a couple of friends yelling and shoving each other at a hot dog stand.
“It’s not something I need to prevent,” says Phoenix, who is wearing a mask, cape and hat.
Welcome to the world of Seattle superheroes.
There’s Buster Doe, No Name, Troop and their leader, Phoenix. We don’t know their real names, but almost every night they suit up and set out with Kevlar and stun guns for protection.
They say their mission is to patrol city streets and stop crime.
“I don’t go around and look for people who park their car wrong,” Phoenix says. “I do acts of violence — I physically saw you assault another person and I intervened.”
It all started years ago after one of Phoenix’s close friends got beat up outside a bar.
“There were like 70 people outside and no one did anything. No one called police, 911, nothing. They just stood there.”
On this night, under a full moon, I went along to see Phoenix in action. He has a wife, kids, a 9-to-5 job and a Facebook page. He also patrols cities all around Puget Sound five nights a week.
He says he wears the mask to protect his family from bad guys who may want revenge. But what about the costume?
“Surprisingly enough the easiest thing to hide bullet proofing under and be recognizable for police so I don’t get shot, is a super suit,” Phoenix says.
For Phoenix, being a real-life superhero is part feeding the homeless, part public relations, and nothing like the comic book heroes we all knew as kids.
“I’ve had a couple guns pulled on me,” says Phoenix, adding that he’s been shot and stabbed while stopping fights.
It isn’t all that exciting.
In an alley in the city’s International District, Phoenix confronted two men after hearing that someone was selling drugs in the area. He spoke to them and asked if they were selling, and the two men walked off.
While Phoenix says he’s just out to help, Seattle police would rather he not intervene directly.
“We would recommend and we would prefer that if people see a crime, witness a crime, have knowledge of a crime, that they pick up a phone and call 911,” Detective Mark Jamieson said. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt and certainly people that are dressed-up their intention might be mistaken by other people.”
Officials are concerned that these superheroes might take the law into their own hands. But Phoenix isn’t planning to sit around.
“I’m definitely not going to let my fellow citizens be assaulted when I can say ‘no,'” he says. “If I walk around and find nobody, that would be a good day. The fact is that I’m finding people – that’s bad – you shouldn’t need me.”
And then I saw what police are concerned about. At the end of our night, Phoenix stops a man who he thinks is trying to drive home drunk.
“Just back up!” Phoenix yells as the man rushes him. He warns the man to stay back or he’ll use a telescoping stun gun he just pulled from under his cape. “Stay back, stay away — I don’t want to have to Tase you!”
One of Phoenix’s colleagues calls 911, and police arrive to defuse the situation. But, the officers are worried.
“I know who you guys are, I know what you’re doing,” an officer tells the costumed group. “But, somebody drunk all of a sudden having people in their face with masks on… now it’s not the norm.”
Did the superheroes escalate the problem? For Phoenix the answer is no.
“We never had an issue with you,” Phoenix tells the man he tried to stop. “We just wanted you to get sober and get home safe.”
It’s just another night of crime fighting.

Originally posted: http://theweek.com/article/index/209642/seattles-real-life-superheroes-an-instant-guide
A group of self-described “superheroes” have been prowling the streets of Seattle claiming to save people from crime. Who are these costumed crusaders?
Move over, Watchmen. A real-life collective of costumed superheroes has taken to the streets of Seattle to fight for law and order. The Rain City Superhero Movement prowls the city late at night performing good deeds. But Seattle police worry that the amateur crime fighters could end up being seriously injured. Here’s a quick guide to what the caped vigilantes are doing:
Who are these masked men and women?
Seattle investigators have identified nine costumed individuals: Buster Doe, Catastrophe, Gemini, Green Reaper, No Name, Penelope, Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle, Thorn, and Thunder 88. Phoenix Jones, a 22-year-old man who patrols the street in a black cape, fedora, white belt, and mask, revealed his real identity to Seattle police in early November. He is normally driven around by a woman who, wearing no costume, stays in the car while he performs his superhero duties. “So far, no confirmation if this is actually his mom,” says Alison Nastasi at Cinematical.
What do they do?
For the most part, they appear to drive around the city looking for fights to stop. One pair of “heroes” wearing ski masks was spotted in a parked Kia Fate that was later traced to the godmother of one of the “characters.” Another group of vigilantes were discovered by police “dealing with” an angry, golf-club-wielding man. The cops confiscated the club, but none of the anonymous superheroes wanted to press charges for fear of being identified.
Do they have any formal training?
“Everyone on my team either has a military background or a mixed martial arts background,” the man known as Phoenix Jones told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “We’re well aware of what it costs to do what we do.” Jones told police he regularly wears body armor and a bulletproof vest when patrolling the streets. Other members of the “Movement” carry Tasers, nightsticks, and pepper spray. They say they do not carry guns.
What do the police think?
“Seattle police think they’re silly at best, dangerous at worst,” says Curtis Cartier at Seattle Weekly. One masked vigilante was almost shot by cops after running out of a darkened park, for example. Police say they would rather the costumed avengers help testify against criminals than put themselves in danger.
How do they find out about crimes?
That remains a mystery, says Cartier at Seattle Weekly. “They may have police scanners, they may have inside sources, or simply Internet access to the SPD police blog.” What they don’t have, yet, is a “skyward pointed spotlight of any kind.”
Who are they?
No one knows, but it hasn’t stopped some Seattle types from guessing. Like Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) and Tony Stark (aka Iron Man), “could the men behind the masks be local Seattle millionaires?” wonders the Belltown Blogger. “It’s interesting to imagine Bill Gates or Paul Allen doling out a bit of vigilante justice in our neighborhood.”
Sources: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2), Seattle Weekly

Originally posted: http://talkingskull.com/article/does-world-need-superheroes
by Niesey
There’s been a lot of hype lately coming from my hometown of Seattle.  Apparently there’s a group of people there who refer to themselves as “Real-Life Superheroes” from the “Rain City Superhero Movement”, and they’re claiming to be part of a nationwide network of crime-fighters.  They’re regular people (who perhaps have read a few too many comic books), that take to the streets in costumes with code names and try to fight crime. The Seattle Police Department has understandably stated some concern regarding the “superheroes”.  According to the Seattle PI article, there have been some events that have led to one “superhero” almost getting shot, and others being mistaken for criminals by citizens:

In one instance, police say a caped crusader dressed in black was nearly shot when he came running out of a dark park. In another case, a witness on Capitol Hill saw the crusaders wearing ski masks in a car parked at a Shell station and thought they were going to rob the place.

The self-proclaimed leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement is a 22-year-old man, that goes by the name Phoenix Jones.  He dresses in black with blue tights (what superhero costume is complete without tights?), and patrols the Seattle streets with his friends…  in a Kia owned by the godmother of one of the “superheroes”…  I guess “Real-Life Superheroes” use economical transportation.  No high-tech Batmobiles for them.
Reading the article on SeattlePI.com piqued my curiosity.  Are there really other “Real-Life Superheroes” in other parts of America, and perhaps the world?  I was amazed to find that indeed there are, and some of them have websites to share their philosophies, list their services, and ask for donations to fund their superhero ways.  There’s Captain B.L.A.C.K. of Savannah, Georgia, Knight Owl from Ohio, and Zetaman from Portland, Oregon.  But I also found that this superhero movement isn’t all that new of a concept.  London also had a “superhero” for some time in Angle-Grinder Man, who said in 2002 “I may not be able to single-handedly and totally cast off the repressive shackles of a corrupt government – but I can cut off your wheel-clamps for you.”  Maybe not all the “superheroes” keep completely within the realms of the law, but it seems that the majority are trying to make a difference in their communities by helping the less fortunate, and doing charitable work.
For people interested in becoming “superheroes”, there are plenty of websites and books to help them.  RealLifeSuperheroes.org recently listed a workshop in Brooklyn, New York, to assist people with creating their superhero costumes.  It cost $20, but included “free beer for those 21 and older.”  Or you could buy the book, How to be a Superhero.
What do you think about the superhero movement?  Are they necessary in today’s society, or are they just another case of a Neighborhood Watch Program getting out of hand, and turning into vigilante justice?  Would you ever consider taking on a new persona and running around in the night in tights? Or should we just stay at home, and let the police do their jobs?

Originally posted: http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/11/19/real-life-superheroes/

A group of caped crusaders with names like Thorn, Green Reaper, Penelope, and Phoenix Jones have sprung up in Seattle. These masked vigilantes say they’re part of the Rain City Superhero Movement — self-described superheroes who patrol the streets at night and fight crime. They’re part of a larger movement of crime fighters who host this website for the Real Life Superhero community — giving tips to Regular Joes and Janes who want to take to the streets and perform “good deeds for the communitarian place whom he inhabits.” Someone’s been watching too much ‘Kick-Ass.’
Seattle police are getting a bit antsy about people putting themselves in unnecessary danger. A group of superheroes outside a gas station in ski masks didn’t bode well with authorities, and one dressed in all black was almost shot running out of a dark park. Phoenix claims he was stabbed “while trying to intervene with a drug dealer and a citizen.” Why do they risk it? “Because someone’s gotta do something,” the author of RLSH says.
These heroes don’t carry automatic weapons — opting for Tasers, nightsticks, and pepper spray instead — and Phoenix doesn’t think just anyone with a mask should be wandering the streets. “Everyone on my team either has a military background or a mixed martial arts background, and we’re well aware of what its costs to do what we do.” His costume includes a black cape, black fedora, blue tights, white belt and mask. His sidekick? A woman not in costume who usually drives him around to do his thing. So far, no confirmation if this is actually his mom.
A department spokesperson, Jeff Kappel, doesn’t seem to be having the same reaction to the group that former NYC mayor Ed Koch had to the Guardian Angels in the late ’70s. “There’s nothing wrong with citizens getting involved with the criminal justice process — as long as they follow it all the way through.” Kappel still recommends calling good old 911.
[via seattlepi.com]