Miguel Rivera, right, founder of the Newburgh chapter of the Gurdian Angels, gets a certificate from founder Curtis Sliwa, center, and Capt. Ben Cruz of Poughkeepsie.
By Nancy Peckenham
The newest chapter of the Guardian Angels has arrived on the streets on Newburgh, where eight city residents have been trained in self-defense and violation prevention that they believe can make a difference in the city.
On Sunday, Curtis Sliwa, who founded the group in the Bronx in 1979, appeared at the graduation ceremony for the eight new recruits, three women and five men, including Miguel Rivera, who was instrumental in getting the chapter started. Rivera said that the Guardian Angels, who always wear their red berets and red jackets have been patrolling three times a week in Newburgh for the past five weeks.
Curtis Sliwa shared his motivating theory: "don't move, improve."
As he addressed the graduates, Sliwa said that the new chapter will fight to make Newburgh a livable city, rather than be discouraged by drug use or crime on the street. “We have become the positive role models out in the neighborhood,” he said, saying that people with “thugging attitude” can take part if they are willing to follow the rules. No weapons are carried by the Guardian Angels while on patrol, but the Newburgh members are trained in self-defense by a Marine sergeant who volunteers his time. According to the chapter’s recruitment materials, the Guardian Angel patrols will look for loitering, vehicles cruising slowly back and forth, open doors and windows or other signs of illegal activity and alert the police. 
In Poughkeepsie, where a chapter has existed for more than three years, the Guardian Angels have brought together blacks, Hispanics and the police who used to be at odds with each other. Marilyn Vetrano is the director the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission and she came to the graduation to talk about how the Guardian Angels have fostered better relations. Vetrano was so impressed she became a member of the Poughkeepsie chapter, which helped the Newburgh group get started earlier this year.
Newburgh city councilwoman Christine Bello made a campaign promise to bring in the Guardian Angels.
Newburgh city councilwoman Christine Bello made a campaign promise in 2008 to bring the Guardian Angels to Newburgh. Before the ceremony, she recalled that she has been mugged twice and her business on Broadway burglarized and she came to believe the Guardian Angels could help understaffed police bring order to the streets. The first attempt to form a chapter fell flat, she said, and she credits Miguel Rivera for providing the steam to get the chapter started.
Darcel Hamilton is one of the three women in the Newburgh chapter of the Guardian Angels.
Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine described how the Guardian Angels want to be part of the city, where they attend council meetings to find out what is going on. “We are not hoodlums, we are not gangsters,” said Larry Flauntleroy, head of the Poughkeepsie chapter, referring to the impression that some people in Newburgh had that they used rough tactics.
At the end of the ceremony, Sliwa hugged Miguel Rivera, and shared some optimism, saying “we can turn this negativity around in no time at all.”
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