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Wanted: Crossing Guards

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By DAVID SOMMER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 28, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is looking for a few good men and women.

School's out for summer, and there's a gathering "perfect storm" in the sheriff's crossing guard division, in the words of the sergeant in command.

"We are in dire need of crossing guards on the east side of Pasco in particular," Sgt. Kurt Pinto said Friday.

The sheriff's crossing guard unit, which has 53 paid positions, already was short by seven guards when school let out, Pinto said.

Another four crossing guards are retiring or moving out of the area, he said. That leaves the unit 11 members short.

On top of that, two new elementary schools will need crossing guards when the new academic year starts Aug. 18, the sergeant said.

Veteran crossing guard Jerry Lavender, a former Ohio police officer who also serves as a state-approved traffic control officer, said the part-time job has proved rewarding far beyond the $9.02 per hour starting pay.

He gets to interact with the children, then send them home to their parents, Lavender said.

"That's what makes the job right," the 67-year-old retired insurance man said. "You soon get to know these children, and you worry about them when they don't come to school."

Lavender said he was charmed last year by one little girl who always made it a point to say hello, even if it was just a warning not to get struck by lightning.

"I love the job. I don't do it for the money. I do it because I love the kids," Lavender said.

To qualify, you have to be able to stand for up to two hours at a time, twice a day, and pass a background check for clearance to work with children.

Guards generally work 90-minute shifts before and after school and are paid for an extra half-hour of drive time to and from their posts, Lavender said. Uniforms are provided by the sheriff's office, and most crossing guards work 20 hours a week.

And, as with teachers, most crossing guards get the summer off, he said.

Pinto urges applicants to apply at www.pascosheriff.com or call 1-800-854-2862, ext. 7791.

If he's unable to fully staff the crossing guard unit by the time schools open in August, patrol deputies will have to fill in, and "that's not a good thing" in terms of personnel use, the sergeant said.

Reporter David Sommer can be reached at (727) 815-1087 or dsommer@tampatrib.com.

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