Guardian Angels Through the Years in NYC (Photos, Videos)

Guardian Angel Eric Jackson, right, looks around while patrolling a subway car in New York, Thursday, June 19, 2003. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

The New York City subway today still retains some of its younger self from 30 years ago---about a third of the trains date back to the 1980s. But the atmosphere inside of them has changed considerably since the time when the system was known for crime.

Members of the Guardian Angels wait to board the B train at the 34th Street station in Manhattan to patrol in the Bronx on Jan. 3, 2013. Benjamin Chasteen/Epoch Times

One thing born of that time was the Guardian Angels—an organization of volunteers who patrol public areas to help prevent crime. It was founded in the city in 1979 and developed from a small non-profit to an international network, including crime-prevention outreach and education programs.

The Guardian Angels are instantly recognizable by their red berets and jackets worn while they vigilantly scan New York subway cars for signs of distress.

A Guardian Angel keeps watch on a subway August 12, 2001 in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Guardian Angels on the NYC subway, 1980 - https://t.co/QukEB5xUUj pic.twitter.com/7ejLJv3hfy

— Rare Historic Photos (@RareHPhotos) January 29, 2016

Guardian Angels on an NYC Subway, 1981. #photography pic.twitter.com/WUHWGEHD5F

— History In Snaps (@HistoryInSnaps) August 24, 2015

The rise of the Guardian Angels, the late ‘70s protecters of the New York subway: http://t.co/VhnhyQMJNq pic.twitter.com/0JWxwZSQv8

— The Bowery Boys NYC (@BoweryBoys) December 22, 2014

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GUARDIAN ANGELS NEW YORK CITY MID 1980'S IN RESTAURANT ROW CRACK COCAINE DRUG BUST SUBWAY PATROLS from 3RD RAIL on Vimeo.