Wanted: dedicated Princeton crossing guards

As school opening approaches, the call goes out once again

By: Nick Norlen
   As the school year approaches, Princeton police are still looking to recruit crossing guards to help students get to and from school safely.
   Borough Police Chief Anthony Federico said it’s always a challenge to find willing candidates.
   "This community has historically been a very difficult community to get crossing guards in," he said. "For whatever reason, we don’t have a large pool of individuals that really want to be crossing guards. Anything that we can do to get them would be great."
   The dearth of volunteers isn’t for a lack of trying.
   Chief Federico said the department has placed fliers in a number of locations and has even tried to recruit guards from the borough’s Public Works Department.
   And although the gig pays — approximately $30 each day — several of the borough’s eight crossings still need a dedicated guard.
   "The problem with it is that it requires two crossings a day," he said, referring to the half-hour morning and afternoon slots beginning at 7:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. "It’s difficult to get people who are willing to break up their day."
   For now, the department has to rely on patrol officers and parking enforcement employees.
   "We do the best we can," Chief Federico said. "We try to not have police officers out there. It ties up so much. It’s not unusual that we have three or four openings a day."
   Fortunately, the township has had more luck with its recruitment efforts.
   Township Police Officer Kim Hodges, who is a member of the Traffic Safety Unit and Community Action, said a few township residents have stepped up.
   "At the moment, we have a guard for each post," she said.
   However, the department is still trying to recruit fill-in guards who would be available on short notice in case one of the full-time guards cannot work on a given day.
   Fill-ins would be trained and placed on a call list, she said.
   And because the township is always looking for guards who will one day replace the regulars, there’s no limit to how many fill-in guards they can use, she said.
   "The more, the merrier," said Ms. Hodges.
   Princeton Regional School District Assistant Superintendent Lew Goldstein agreed.
   "The more adults we have out there, the better off we’ll be, the safer we’ll feel about the children," he said.
   Mr. Goldstein said the district has always tried to put the word out about the need for crossing guards because "it’s a critical."
   He added, "There’s a lot of streets out there."
   Those interested in becoming a crossing guard can contact Sgt. Robert Currier of the Borough Police Department at 609-924-4141.
   Township residents can call 609-921-2100, ext. 804.