Wearing his classic red beret, Curtis Sliwa - the founder of the Guardian Angels - met with local leaders in York Friday to talk to them about how his group could help deter crime in the city. The room was packed with county commissioners, state and city leaders, representatives with community organizations and residents. All listened intently as Sliwa described the purpose of the Angels and what they could do for York.

Founded in 1979, the Guardian Angels are a group of volunteers - usually young people from the neighborhoods - who are trained to patrol the streets to deter crime. They go through a three-month training period in which they learn the laws of the city where they patrol. They also learn CPR, first aid and self-defense. They're not armed but are able to make citizens arrests. Their trademark uniform is a red jacket and beret.

Sliwa says the Guardian Angels empower young people to take pride in their communities and protect their neighborhoods.

There are more than 90 Guardian Angels chapters throughout the world.

Sliwa says if the Angels were to come to York they would work with the existing outreach organizations and police. He says they do not cost the taxpayers because they're volunteers.

The Mayor of York, John Brenner, says he still has lots of questions about the Angels but that Sliwa's visit is the beginning of a good dialogue. Brenner says he would like to get together a delegation of community leaders to go to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania where the Angels already exist to see the operation in action.

After the meeting, Sliwa took a bus tour of York.