Contact: Sunny Mindel/Matthew Higgins 212-788-2958
Jennifer Chait (212) 788-9364
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined Police Commissioner Howard Safir and New York City Crossing Guards to announce that the Police Department will hire an additional 150 School Crossing Guards to assist children in crossing busy streets on their way to school. The Mayor made the announcement at PS 123 in Brooklyn, where he participated in the Principal for a Day program.
"I am happy to announce that the City will hire an additional 150 School Crossing Guards to make our City streets even safer for our children," said Mayor Giuliani. "Beginning this fall -- in time for the new school year -- the 150 new Crossing Guards will join the existing 1,828 School Crossing Guards, bringing the total to 1,978. Crossing Guards are familiar faces in neighborhoods throughout the City, serving as a source of comfort to concerned parents and guardian angels to countless children. Every day, thousands of our City's children are shepherded safely across busy intersections under the watchful eye of a concerned Crossing Guard. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to thank all of our City's Crossing Guards for putting themselves in harms way everyday to ensure the safety of our children."
Police Commissioner Safir said, "Traffic safety is a very important issue for all New Yorkers, but even more so for our most vulnerable citizens - our children. This extra funding in the Mayor's Executive Budget will enable us to station more School Crossing Guards where they are needed and that is good news for all of us. We are confident that these additional guards will add to the level of safety around our schools."
Individuals interested in becoming School Crossing Guards should contact their local Police Precinct. Candidates train for six days at the Police Academy and undergo a medical exam and background investigation. Crossing Guards work an average of 4½ hours each day at the start and end of the school day. Salaries start at $7.65 an hour and increase to $9.31 after three years of service. Crossing Guards who work more than 20 hours a week receive health benefits.