Lawmaker Worried About Crossing Guard Vacancies

Sunday, March 23, 2014 10:15 pm | < 1 Minute Read

The Great Owl: Flatrockbrook Nature Center officials on Thursday show off the new Great Horned Owl that came to the Englewood, N.J., aviary as a gift. (AP Photo/The Record of Bergen County, Don Smith)

With an acute shortage of crossing guards in Brooklyn, a councilman is urging Orthodox Jews to consider the positions.

“By applying for a position as an NYPD Crossing Guard,” said Chaim Deutsch, a Midwood Democrat, “you will be helping to protect neighborhood children while getting paid … a win-win situation.”

There are many schools, both public and private, without crossing guards protecting students. As of Jan. 15, police listed 92 vacancies throughout the department.

There are no formal requirements for guards, who work five-hour days for a maximum of 25 hours a week. The starting pay is $9.88 an hour. Every effort is made to assign guards near where they live.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the March 24th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.