Mayor Duggan Kicks Off Angels' Night Campaign, Calls for Detroit Residents and Boosters to Join Him on Patrol

Flanked by a coalition of city, community and business leaders, Mayor Mike Duggan today kicked off this year’s Angels’ Night volunteer recruitment campaign at the City’s Public Safety Center in southwest Detroit.
The Mayor, who plans to personally patrol all three nights, urged city residents and Detroit boosters to join him in keeping the city safe and quiet during the three-day Angels’ Night period, which runs from Wednesday, October 29, through Friday, October 31.
“Detroit has a great deal of positive momentum right now and we want to keep it going,” Mayor Duggan said, referring to the efforts to relight neighborhoods, increased blight removal efforts and 50 new buses set to arrive next year. “Every City department is focused completely on making sure we have a successful Angels’ Night campaign and we are calling on every Detroiter to become a part of it.”
How people can help
This year’s Angels’ Night campaign includes several ways in which volunteers can get involved. Primary elements of the Angels’ Night program are:
• Watch Your Block Patrol Program organizes teams of volunteers to patrol streets in Detroit. Block clubs, Citizens’ Radio Patrols, community organizations and churches are encouraged to patrol a two- to three-block radius around their neighborhoods.
• Adopt-A-House Program seeks volunteers to watch or adopt specific vacant buildings in city neighborhoods. This Building Is Being Watched signs are posted on adopted buildings.
• Porch Light Program encourages volunteers to turn on their porch lights, or any outdoor lights, between dusk and dawn.
• Eyes and Ears Program calls volunteers to regularly look out their windows to make sure no suspicious activity is taking place, and to call 9-1-1 if they do see something out of the ordinary.
City officials are also encouraging all residents to:
• Turn on outside lights at their homes from dusk until morning on each day of the Halloween period.
• Report any suspicious activity they observe to the Detroit Police Department by calling 9-1-1.
• Place refuse containers or bulk items at the curb before 7 a.m. on the morning of the collection day, rather than the night before, and remove refuse containers immediately after the trash is collected.
How to get involved
Volunteers are needed to patrol each night during the three-day Halloween period. This Saturday, Mayor Duggan and each of his appointees will fan out across the city, knocking on doors to recruit volunteers.
“Citizen volunteers are the backbone of our Angels’ Night campaign each year and we want to let them know personally how valuable and needed they are,” the Mayor said.
To help young people stay safe, the Detroit Recreation and Police departments are holding a number of Halloween parties and activities for children and teens. Information will be on the City’s Web site at www.angelsnight.org or at a local recreation center or police precinct.
For more information, or to volunteer, go to the City’s Web site at www.angelsnight.org or call (313) 224-4415 or one of the offices listed below:
• West – Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers at Curtis
• East – Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval near Van Dyke
• Southwest – Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere near Vernor
• Northeast – Matrix Human Services, 13560 McNichols
• Far West – Don Bosco Hall Community Resource Center, 19321 W. Chicago
During the three nights of the Angels’ Night period, there will be additional satellite locations where volunteers can sign up and receive areas to patrol:
Detroit Police 10th Precinct
8675 Rosa Parks Blvd.
Detroit, Michigan 48206
all three nights
Marathon firehouse
Address contact: 12800 Toronto 48217
Times of operations: 5-11 p.m.
October 30 only
1st Spirit of Love Missionary Baptist Church
15635 Mack
Times of operations: 6-11 p.m.
All three nights
2nd Jefferson East, Inc.
14628 Jefferson
Times of operations 6-10 p.m.
All three nights
Prince Hall Masons
3500 McDougall
Times of operations 5-12 p.m.
October 30 only
Curfews and gasoline purchase restrictions
In addition, public safety officials outlined an emergency curfew that will be in effect during the period, pending City Council approval. The emergency curfew requires all minors age 17 and under be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (with identification) from 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 to 6 a.m. on Oct. 30, and from 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 to 6 a.m. on Oct. 31.
During the emergency curfew hours, minors will be allowed to travel to and from work or educational or training programs, but they must carry proof of employment or attendance. Minors violating the curfew will be ticketed and held until picked up by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian also may receive a parental responsibility violation ticket.
A second emergency ordinance prohibits the dispensing of fuel into portable containers in Detroit from October 27 at midnight through October 31 at 11:59 p.m. except for certain emergency situations for those 18 years of age and older, pending City Council approval.
Sponsors
Mayor Duggan also thanked this year’s sponsors, who already have provided more than $25,000 in donations and in-kind contributions. This year’s lead sponsor is Comerica Bank, which has supported the Angels’ Night campaign with more than $100,000 in donations since the program began more than 20 years ago. Participating White Castle locations will provide two hamburgers and a beverage to volunteers who show their Angels’ Night shirt or baseball cap from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. on any of the three nights. Volunteers must go into the restaurant, not through the drive through.