HOUSTON -- Houston's recent crime spike brought a controversial civilian group to town and now, after three months of training, the Guardian Angel graduates are ready to hit the streets.

It started in January with 50 people wanting to help reduce crime in the Sharpstown area.

Twelve of those 50 graduated Sunday as full-fledged members of the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol. They went through three months of educational and physical training to try to make a difference.

"I'm a little worried. I would be lying if I said I wasn't," graduate David Campbell said. "I think my concern and wanting to care and try to make a difference in the situation, with bad things going on on the streets, I think that overrides my worry."

"We're starting to get people involved in doing what is our ethical and moral obligation," Guardian Angels Senior Director Arnaldo Salinas said. "We just try and make better the communities of Houston."

Angels founder Curtis Sliwa told the graduates that this is a new beginning for the group that first hit Houston in 1980 and now has the support of the Houston Police Department.

Gail Brekke was part of that '80s group and now, six kids later, is back.

"I handle a lot of confrontations at home," Brekke said. "We don't yell and the same is true on the streets. When you come up on a situation, you don't want to yell or run in there and grab people. I'd say 90 percent of the time you can just talk it out."

Six more people are currently in training.