Police temporarily cover Prince George’s County intersections where no crossing guards are present

RIVERDALE, Md. - Police officers in Prince George’s County are temporarily covering intersections where there are no crossing guards present over a month after two children were killed while walking to school.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said the emergency school crossing guard staffing plan would begin immediately.

The police department’s School Crossing Guard unit is also working to fill approximately 83 vacancies. 

READ MORE: 2 children struck, killed by vehicle near Riverdale Elementary School in Prince George's Co.

Officials say the staffing decline began in 2016, primarily due to retirements, and continued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unit oversees 302 crossing guard assignments daily at 151 distinct intersections near 102 schools across the county.

READ MORE: Students return to Riverdale Elementary for first time since classmates struck, killed near school

In November of last year, 10-year-old Shalom Mbah and 5-year-old Sky Sosa were killed while crossing the street on their way to Riverdale Elementary School.

Investigators are still working to determine if the driver should be charged, but officials say that could take some time.

Brandi Cowgill lives near the school and both of the students who died in November were Cowgill’s neighbors. Cowgill said she was hit by a car a few weeks before the children’s deaths.

"I’m glad to hear they are doing that," she said. "I hope that was a wake-up call for everyone. The worst possible wake up call they could have had, but we are an all-walker school. This school has no buses. Everyone in this community walks. There’s no other options but to walk."

"I think these people are coming in off East-West [Highway] and they just, they’re in a hurry. They’re not paying attention or they’re trying to cut around down Riverdale Road, trying to cut around this traffic from the construction out here," Cowgill continued. "I think a cop would have helped because I think people do not pay attention."

Cowgill said some neighbors in the community are considering forming committees focused on traffic safety.

"Definitely, this area could use a ton of traffic improvement and I do believe officer presence would have made a difference," she said, referring to the crash.

In November, Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz said their evidence showed a crossing guard may not have made a significant difference. 

There was an adult with the children, who was also hit and injured as a result. Had there been a crossing guard, he or she would likely have been hit too, according to Chief Aziz.

"I don’t want to move away from a driver of a van who appeared to make a left-hand turn and, whether they completely stopped or continued to roll, struck three people and killed two children," Aziz said in November. "In this particular case, the school crossing guard … it wouldn’t have appeared that that would have a great difference into the facts that are surrounding the facts as we know them now."

The investigation is nearing completion, according to a spokesperson for the Prince George’s County Police Dept. Afterward, it will be sent to the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for final review.

Key Highlights of the Emergency Staffing Plan:

- Police Officers at Uncovered Locations:  As new guards are recruited; they will replace officers at the covered locations.

- Recruitment Efforts: The department has undertaken a robust recruitment campaign, distributing bilingual hiring flyers, utilizing social media, engaging the faith-based community, collaborating with County Council members, partnering with PGCPS, and promoting the job posting through Employ Prince George’s.

- Enhanced Incentives: To attract more candidates, the starting pay for SCGs has been increased from $12.77 to over $17.00/hour. Additionally, efforts to streamline the hiring process include tripling interview times and considering a reduction in the age requirement from 21 to 18.