Volunteer officers could make schools more safe

When I was young things were a lot more different.
If you lived less than two miles from your school, you couldn’t ride the bus, you had to walk.
There were crossing guards at every intersection within a few blocks of our school. Most of were retired policemen who worked part time, protecting the children who had to walk to school.
I was one of those unfortunate children who happened to live 1.9 miles from Lime Street Elementary School.
Even though I had to walk to school, I always felt safe crossing the highway because the crossing guard was there.
Back then, policemen didn’t make a lot of money; they did it because they believed that what they were doing was important.
I’m writing this letter to ask retired and off-duty policeman to volunteer their time to protect our schools.
Everyone knows that the local police departments and school districts are hurting for money, but these are our children, and you could make a difference.
I just want my kids to feel as safe at school as I did crossing the highway on my way to school in 1969.
Fritz Stevens
Harriman