By Shirley Ng, AsAmNews Staff Writer
Yes Chinatown, there is a Chinese American Guardian Angel.
When the Asian American community first learned that the Guardian Angels had begun patrolling New York’s Chinatown in January, it was well received and many were thankful for the extra security. They are a welcomed sight in Chinatown especially now with the rise of hate crimes towards Asians related to COVID-19. Some wondered if there were any Chinese American Guardian Angels patrolling Chinatown. Well, there is.
It was 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon and Wally Ng, a member of the volunteer led crime watch group, Guardian Angels, just finished patrolling Chinatown.
Ng and his fellow members met at Chase Bank on the corner of Mott and Canal Streets to meet their group leader, Milton Oliver to mark the end of Saturday’s patrol and to regroup before each head home.
Ng was only a high-school student when he first joined the Guardian Angels in the 1980’s, but after transferring to a different school, he lost contact with them. It was only a few weeks ago in March that he noticed a recruitment flyer that the Guardian Angels posted in Chinatown with Oliver’s telephone number. He called Oliver and now Ng in his 50’s, is a member once again.
The Guardian Angels work in partnership with local police to deter crime, make citizen’s arrest and build community spirit. This particular group began patrolling Chinatown just in time because due to COVID-19, the NYPD auxiliary, a volunteer reserve force has been suspended, according to NYPD Community Affairs Officer, Rodney Rosado of the local 5th Precinct in Chinatown.
Since the stay at home order began over a month ago, many businesses in Chinatown have closed and foot traffic is practically non-existent. While there is some vehicular traffic, the stillness of the streets may give an opportunity to commit crimes in Chinatown, so the Guardian Angels have been a welcomed sight, even the Chase Bank employees greet them and offer them bottles of water.
Ng takes joy in his service to the community. “I joined to protect neighborhoods all over the city. On Monday, we patrolled the E train, rode it all the way to the end and gave food to the homeless. It made me feel good,” he said.
When he rejoined, Ng had to be certified in first aid and CPR like all new members, including martial arts, but Ng is already well trained in martial arts according to Oliver.
In non-pandemic times, Ng is employed in the film industry. He lives in Brooklyn and is fluent in Cantonese, a dialect that is valuable while patrolling Chinatown, and because he’s Chinese he is able to offer a personal connection to the community and may help Cantonese speaking victims reporting the incident.
In the 1980’s, Oliver lived during a time when it seems as if all of South Bronx was burning. In the 70’s, greedy landlords were suspected of burning their buildings for money and residents were leaving the borough to live elsewhere.
“I know how it is to live in an abandoned city. I don’t wish that on anyone walking outside and when everything is empty. If something happens and no one is around to help you, it’s why I joined the Guardian Angels,” said Oliver.
There are 18 new recruits from Chinatown and Little Italy currently being trained who can speak Chinese, Italian and French. There are also three Asian American recruits for the Flushing, Queens patrol group.
Oliver wants an established patrol group from Chinatown so that the people will take back their community and Ng says he’s been encouraging his Chinese American friends to join.
“We do need more Asian faces to patrol Chinatown. I have friends who are afraid to come out, but I tell them there’s nothing to worry about,” said Ng.
He prefers new members to live locally in Lower Manhattan so it’s more convenient for them to patrol Chinatown and because they would already be familiar with the neighborhood.
Ng is actually one of two Chinese Americans members patrolling Chinatown. The other is Sara who joined about three weeks ago. She is from Chinatown and is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin. Sara declined to be interviewed.
You can find the Guardian Angels patrolling through Chinatown twice a week. If you are interested in joining the Guardian Angels, contact Milton Oliver at 718-502-0221.
Before the group left the corner of Chase Bank to go on their own way, I asked if there were any incidents that afternoon. They said there were none.
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RE: Chinese American patrols streets of New York Chinatown with Guardian Angels: Every race should join the Guardian Angels or create their own version of the Jewish Shomrim. The NYPD can only cover so much area.