Guardian Angels March in Hazleton
By: Brittany Sweeney
Updated: March 20, 2013
Hazleton, Luzerne County- Crime has been on the rise for years in Hazleton, but a recent string of
events is sparking a new effort to combat the violence. Friday night community members stepped out with the Guardian Angles Safety Patrol.
"We got some good news, real good news. AJ opened his eyes for the first time. Happy birthday," says Andrew Goryl. Aj Goryl's parents celebrated the flicker of hope they received Friday. Goryl is spending his 33rd birthday in a hospital bed with nearly every bone is his face broken after being severely beaten last weekend in Hazleton. Hazleton Police Chief Frank Deandrea says "this is one ugly way to celebrate your son's birthday. At the same time I'm trying to find something good from that ugliness. Not just for the Goryl's, not just for AJ, but for the community."
Now, Chief Deandrea is asking the community to step up and the Guardian Angels to step in. The Regional Director of the Guardian Angels, Scott Koppenhofer, says "sometimes it has to hit close to home for people to join. A lot of people just hope it's not going to happen to them, but I think that the crimes happening in the community and how close together, I think there is a bit more outrage in the community." "We're fed up. We've had it. No more, no more, and this is proof that it's no more," says Hazleton resident David Piehota.
This is not the first time the Guardian Angles Safety Patrol has tried to establish a group in Hazleton, a few attempts over the past 3 years have failed. "The need has apparently been here in Hazleton for a while, but it all depends on the community. If the community doesn't get involved, we won't have a chapter," says Koppenhofer.
For more information on the Guardian Angles and how to become one visit guardianangels.org
"We got some good news, real good news. AJ opened his eyes for the first time. Happy birthday," says Andrew Goryl. Aj Goryl's parents celebrated the flicker of hope they received Friday. Goryl is spending his 33rd birthday in a hospital bed with nearly every bone is his face broken after being severely beaten last weekend in Hazleton. Hazleton Police Chief Frank Deandrea says "this is one ugly way to celebrate your son's birthday. At the same time I'm trying to find something good from that ugliness. Not just for the Goryl's, not just for AJ, but for the community."
Now, Chief Deandrea is asking the community to step up and the Guardian Angels to step in. The Regional Director of the Guardian Angels, Scott Koppenhofer, says "sometimes it has to hit close to home for people to join. A lot of people just hope it's not going to happen to them, but I think that the crimes happening in the community and how close together, I think there is a bit more outrage in the community." "We're fed up. We've had it. No more, no more, and this is proof that it's no more," says Hazleton resident David Piehota.
This is not the first time the Guardian Angles Safety Patrol has tried to establish a group in Hazleton, a few attempts over the past 3 years have failed. "The need has apparently been here in Hazleton for a while, but it all depends on the community. If the community doesn't get involved, we won't have a chapter," says Koppenhofer.
For more information on the Guardian Angles and how to become one visit guardianangels.org
