PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz served as a crossing guard Wednesday, helping kids get to school safely at the same intersection where two children were hit and killed five months ago. The chief helped guide traffic near Riverdale Elementary School.
“What we wanted to do was serve as an example. Examples start at the top in leadership…to come out and provide a safe environment for our children who are crossing the street,” Aziz said.
Back in November, a 5-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were crossing the street when a driver hit and killed them. No crossing guard was on duty at the time. Since then, Prince George's County Police officers have started serving as crossing guards to help fill the shortage.
“We know what loss we suffered right here at this intersection — but for the entire residents of Prince George’s County — these are all our children, and we are accountable, responsible for all of them. We want to get out here and do our part and play our role in making sure people are safe,” Aziz said.
Since launching a recruiting campaign earlier this year, Aziz says the department has received a huge increase of applications for crossing guards. He says right now 80 are waiting for a background check.
“If all 80 were placed here and were staffed, yes, we would be full. That’s the best outcome we can hope for. It’s not totally realistic because people do fail out in backgrounds,” the chief said.
Chief Aziz says addressing the shortage is important so another tragedy doesn't happen.
“We don’t want our young babies lives to be given in vain,” he said.
There are 302 crossing guard assignments at 151 intersections near 102 schools across the county. Staffing began to decline in 2016 largely due to retirements, and by 2020 the pandemic had made it challenging to maintain an adequate number of crossing guards on staff.
The department will continue to have officers staffing intersections as crossing guards until they are no longer needed. Aziz encourages those who can to apply for crossing guard roles, so there is a pool of ready applicant. Those who wish to apply can do so here.
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