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Volunteers Come Out In Force For Angels' Night Duties

DETROIT (WWJ) - It's the first night of Detroit's three-day Angels' Night period where volunteers and extra members of law enforcement are out patrolling the streets to deter would be arsonists and other criminals.

At Cobo Center - dozens of law enforcement officials including Michigan State and Wayne County Sheriff's deputies along with Detroit police and fire personnel attended the Fire Net roll call and received their patrol assignments for the three-day Angels' Night period.

Bing Angel's Night Vol (SDavis)
Volunteers arrived at the Detroit police station to get Angel's Night assignments. (WWJ/Stephanie Davis)

Mayor Dave Bing addressed the large group:

"We've got a lot of people in our community that are angry, that are frustrated ... they take out their anger, in unprecedented ways by burning the homes here in the city," said Bing. "It makes no sense to me - it puts a lot of you at risk."

Rena Dalentei from Sterling Heights along with her friend signed-up to patrol neighborhoods in the 10th district on the city's westside.

"It was kind of a spur of the moment thing, I saw it on Twitter ... and I figure it was just a way to give back to the city," said Dalentei. "I do home care so I'm driving all around the streets anyway, so it's a nice way to make sure everyone is safe."

At the Detroit Police mini station on Rosa Parks Blvd. this evening, organizers say they had over 50-people to sign-up for foot patrol within the first 2-hours.

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