{"id":6453,"date":"2011-02-15T23:49:08","date_gmt":"2011-02-16T07:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.reallifesuperheroes.org\/?p=6453"},"modified":"2011-02-15T23:49:08","modified_gmt":"2011-02-16T07:49:08","slug":"real-life-superheroes-patrol-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/2011\/02\/15\/real-life-superheroes-patrol-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Real life superheroes patrol on campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally posted: http:\/\/www.thedailyaztec.com\/2011\/02\/real-life-superheros-patrol-on-campus\/<\/a>
\nUpset with an apathetic public, these guys took safety in their own hands<\/strong>
\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Peter Kluch \/ Senior Staff Photographer<\/p><\/div>
\nWhile they may not have the superhero powers featured in movies and comic strips, a local group has been braving the streets equipped with bulletproof vests and mace to \u201ctake a stand against violent crime.\u201d
\nAlthough his \u201creal job\u201d is working as a security officer, Mr. Xtreme is the founder and president of the Xtreme Justice League. The name was inspired by the Justice League of America comic strips, but also because he views what he does as extreme.
\n\u201cMost people aren\u2019t going to put themselves on the line to help people they don\u2019t know or put themselves in dangerous situations,\u201d Mr. Xtreme said. \u201cI think my views are extreme also, but in a good way.\u201d
\nHe said team members use influences from their choice characters and apply those traits to real life with the intent to stop crime through prevention, physical intervention and community outreach.
\nThis is part of an online movement known as Real Life Superheros, in which individuals and groups perform heroic acts for the community under the masks of their hidden identities, he said.
\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Peter Kluch \/ Senior Staff Photographer<\/p><\/div>
\nThe San Diego-based group actively patrols the College Area in response to lasts month\u2019s assault of a woman walking home at 3 a.m. near the intersection of Campanile Drive and Montezuma Road. They also patrol areas of Chula Vista beca.
\nThe XJL is comprised of approximately 15 individuals \u2014 students, security guards, military and retail workers \u2014 who are \u201crunning this aggressive campaign\u201d to stop the perpetrators and prevent future attacks by raising awareness of these issues to the public, according to Mr. Xtreme.
\n\u201cWe are all regular people. It doesn\u2019t matter who we are, but it matters what we do. \u201cThat\u2019s what is special about our group: it\u2019s a pretty diverse group of people.\u201d
\nThe group acts as a \u201cvisual deterrent to crime\u201d during the day, late evenings and late night, based on what they feel is necessary.
\nAccording to Capt. Lamine Secka of the SDSU Police Department, the XJL doesn\u2019t seem to have prevented any particular crimes, but the police department stands neutral as it hasn\u2019t been much of a nuisance either.
\nAlthough, Secka noted, the XJL\u2019s outfits \u201ccan be a bit distracting.\u201d
\nReal life superheros patrol on campus<\/a> from The Daily Aztec<\/a> on Vimeo<\/a>.
\nMr. Xtreme, who based his outfit on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, wears a green helmet and matching cape, level IIIA bulletproof body armor, goggles that conceal his eyes and camouflage pants. Urban Avenger, a newer member who joined the XJL in the summer, dresses in red and black Under Armor items with polycarbonate motorcycle gear.
\nEach member carries an assortment of self-defense devices and tools that vary from pepper spray, tasers, flashlights, handcuffs and first aid to CPR kits \u2014 all of which are legal under full extent of the law, Mr. Xtreme said.
\nThese tools are helpful if the group witnesses a crime and must implement a citizen\u2019s arrest. Based on California Penal Code S.837, a private person may arrest another\u00a0 in three situations; for a public offense committed or attempted in his presence; when the person arrested has committed a felony, although not in his presence; or when a felony has been confirmed and the citizen has reasonable cause to believe their suspect has committed it.
\nThough Mr. Xtreme said they\u2019ve deployed their weapons and performed citizen\u2019s arrests in the past, they refuse the title of \u201cvigilantes\u201d because they try to work within reason and not harm anyone.
\nUrban Avenger said that in October, he helped break up a fight involving a few men outside the San Diego State trolley station. A few months later, the man who was attacked approached him and thanked him for saving his life.
\n\u201cThat was the moment that justified everything we do,\u201d he said.
\nHowever, there have been times when members of the XJL were detained by police during patrol because it was not immediately clear whether they were criminals themselves, he said.
\nInternational security and conflict resolution senior Amir Emadi said the group has a lot of potential for growth since the city is host to Comic-Con and a strong XJL presence would be good for society.
\n\u201cThe best aspect is it\u2019s an option for those who might be considering joining gangs to join (the XJL) as an alternative,\u201d Emadi said. \u201cYou can tell they feel it in their hearts and that makes them real superheros.\u201d
\nThe XJL is seeking to recruit more members from all backgrounds.
\n\u201cThe XJL can\u2019t tackle all these problems ourselves,\u201d Mr. Xtreme said. \u201cWe want people to volunteer and get involved so we can make our community safer. Public safety should be everyone\u2019s concern.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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