LENEXA, KS (KCTV) -
A man who spent years protecting children on the way to school has been told to hang up his crossing guard sign. But some parents want him back on the job.
A crossing guard, well liked by some, has been banned from doing a job he said he loves, but the police said it's about the safety of the very children he's supposed to be guarding and drivers too.
Marvin Rose didn't want to go on camera with KCTV5, but he made it clear on his Facebook page that not being able to continue as the crossing guard at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School was disappointing.
Disappointed as well are some drivers and students who remember him and said he made an impression on them.
"He was always making sure he waved at the cars. It probably helped me to slow down because I knew he was there. I always thought that was a friendly thing to do," Christian Ralphs said.
"He was very nice. One time he did a magic trick for us. He threw a ball in the air and it disappeared," student J.D. Norton said.
When some parents found out the crossing guard, who was always bubbly and friendly, was ousted, they were disappointed too.
One parent posted on Facebook.
"You do a fantastic job and seriously the children definitely need a crossing guard with your ‘caring'. Thanks Marv for all you've done and many, many children and parents will and do thank you."
But Lenexa police said he was becoming a distraction - trying to wave at every car and trying to stop cars by walking in front of them was dangerous, especially since there was a crosswalk button to change the light.
"They are to get kids from one side of the street to the other...that's it," Lt. Dawn Layman with the Lenexa Police Department said.
For months police advised Rose and initially moved him from West 87th Street and Candlelight Lane to a less busy street. But police said they still received complaints and witnessed safety concerns too.
"If he ran for office, he'd probably get elected. But this is not a personality issue, it's a public safety issue. And his intentions might be good, but not safe," Layman said.
KCTV5's Heather Staggers spoke with Rose by phone. He said he never meant for this to become an issue. He said he loves kids and wanted to make people slow down. But police said a crossing guard's job is too important to take attention away from safety.
Lenexa police contract their security services through Securitas, the company who handles the crossing guard jobs.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
