Low pay and the odd split shift has kept the city from filling all school crossing- guard posts, officials say.
The NYPD said it is still recruiting crossing guards for all precincts, but especially in Flushing, Queens; Bushwick, Williamsburg and East New York in Brooklyn; and Harlem and East Harlem in Manhattan.
East Harlem is where Amar Diarrassouba, 6, was killed by a truck last week on his way to school — at an intersection where the guard was allegedly AWOL.
“Crossing-guard positions have been understaffed for years because it’s a very difficult job to fill due to the hours,” said Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens), who chairs the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.
The part-time jobs pay $9.88 an hour to start and go up to $12.90 an hour after three years.
But a crossing guard’s day is usually limited to morning and afternoon shifts, and they must buy their own uniforms.