BROCKTON, Mass. — A group of concerned citizens in Brockton are trying to clean up their town, and they're starting with dirty heroin needles.
They call themselves the Arch Angels and they're getting hundreds of dirty syringes off the streets.
Tuesday of this week, a 12-year-old girl was playing near Snow Park in Brockton, when she and a friend stumbled on a pile of needles.
"I was standing right here, and my friend was right there. I said get back,” said Deanna Monk.
Fortunately, Deanna knows to avoid needles and told her dad, Richard Monk, about them. Richard Monk is part of Operation Arch Angels and picked up the needles and threw them away.
Arch Angels meets twice a week to help fight Brockton’s heroin problem. Harry Green founded the group and admits that it's a dangerous line of work.
"Usually when we catch them in the act, when we just get done shooting up, they don't care. They're just enjoying the high,” said Green.
Green said his team of eight tries to deter heroin addicts from shooting up near parks and schools. The angels even carry the lifesaving drug, Narcan in case they encounter someone who's overdosed.
"Anybody can use it. They give you a crash course, a quick crash course. It takes about two minutes,” said Green.
Green says they've received some encouragement from police officers but they've also been warned what they're doing can get themselves and others hurt.
Monk said he doesn't care. He just wants the addicts to pick up their dirty needles.
"If my daughter can find them, any kid can find them,” he said.
Brockton's Mayor Bill Carpenter has been an advocate for needles clean up; he did not have a comment for this story.