HOLLYWOOD : Pilot Program to Patrol Hollywood Blvd. Begins

Under a $1-million, one-year pilot program that began Friday, private, unarmed security guards and citizen patrols will walk Hollywood Boulevard and adjacent streets.

The program, modeled after one that Police Chief Willie Williams started when he was in Philadelphia, was put together by Councilman Mike Woo.

The guards, who will pair up to patrol Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Gower Street, were taught Hollywood history, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and security guard skills, said Community Redevelopment Agency spokesman Marc Littman.

Patrols will be out at least 15 hours a day, Littman said. There will be three teams on each side of the boulevard at any time. But the patrols, in white shirts and dark pants, may be deployed with fewer guards some mornings and more at night when special events are expected to draw crowds. CRA Commissioner Christine Essel said the officers received special training from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Heritage for tourist inquiries.

The patrols will be provided by Patriot Security, a Los Angeles firm, and Carson-based Stars and Stripes, at a cost of $750,000 to the CRA.

Another $250,000 will go to provide the volunteers from United Streets of Hollywood, a consortium of 24 Neighborhood Watch groups. The groups will be equipped with up to 25 cellular phones to beef up their usual activities.