Those of you familiar with John Robb and his book Brave New War will find this an interesting development.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The city’s embattled police chief, acknowledging that police alone cannot quell a run of deadly violence, has called on 10,000 black men to patrol the streets to reduce crime. Sylvester Johnson, who is black, says black men have a duty to protect more vulnerable residents. He wants each volunteer to pledge to work three hours a day for at least 90 days.

“It’s time for African-American men to stand up,” Johnson told the Philadelphia Daily News, which first reported the story Wednesday. “We have an obligation to protect our women, our children and our elderly. We’re going to put men on the street. We’re going to train them in conflict resolution.”

Older readers may recall the Guardian Angels, a voluntary citizens group which was started in New York City in 1979. Although unarmed, members are trained in basic first aid, CPR, law, conflict resolution, communication, and basic martial arts and wear uniforms. Since its inception, it has expanded word wide with groups in the Canada, UK, Peru, Japan, Germany, South Africa, Denmark and New Zealand as well as all over the United States.

The 10,000 Men project is aimed specifically at the black community and aims to help reduce crime in specific areas of the city. However, critics and supporters have low expectations as to the real turn out and ultimate success of the program. But regardless of the degree of success or failure, it could be the beginning of the bottom up security trend Robb and others are predicting. While many imagine this future trend to be the rich and middle class living in walled suburbs with a private security force, little has been said about other communities who could also be motivated to fight crime and police their own neighborhoods.

Perhaps most interesting is whether middle class communities in regular non-suburb neighborhoods will begin hiring their own private security to patrol the area. While this does already exist, the question is one of scale. In addition, might neighborhoods aim to eventually institute their own armed version of neighborhood watch? A little organization and technology could go a long way.

My own vision, based on the crime problem in my hometown, envisions small groups of blocks, say 2 or 3, banding together and taking responsibility for their own area. With webcams and WiFi cameras widely and cheaply available, the neighborhood could very easily be kept under routine surveillance without the privacy concerns of the government doing so. In addition, each person could contribute small amounts of money for a few walkie talkies, extra lighting and potentially their own private security guard for this small area.

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