The Angels arrived in Westwood this summer at residents' request.

Next, the Angels are likely to hit the streets in Price Hill, said Pete Witte, president of the Price Hill Civic Club, the neighborhood's community council. He said Thursday he plans to take the issue to East Price Hill community council's monthly meeting Monday.

"It's a total joke," he said of council's rejection of more police in a 5-4 vote Wednesday. "How this city cannot recognize crime as the number one issue facing most neighborhoods is just shocking"

Crime has been a problem the past five to eight years in Price Hill, residents say, but the Sept. 26 fatal shooting of an Elder High School senior near the school on Glenway Avenue galvanized the community.

Elder is two streets from the border of East Price Hill, noted Frank Hollister, president of the East Price Hill Improvement Association, the community council.

"If anything, our crime and condition is worse than what's in West Price Hill," Hollister said, adding that he supports the Angels coming in if that is the only option left.

"City Hall is not going to help," he said. "The police department does the best they can with what they have and we support the police department, but that is not solving our problem."

Earlier this week at Price Hill Civic Club's monthly meeting, Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher urged neighbors to continue banding together to combat crime.

He, too, said he was shocked by the changes in Price Hill.

The chief pledged to support their efforts - including a Price Hill chapter of the Angels.

"I think more eyes and more ears are always a value to any neighborhood," Streicher said.

Frank Lee, the East Coast director of the Angels, also addressed the crowd Tuesday, outlining efforts so far in Westwood. Angels can make citizens' arrests but do not carry weapons, he said.

The Angels in Westwood haven't had to make any arrests yet.

"Everybody knows we're out," he said. "By 10:30 p.m., it's quiet."

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com