Police Chief Addresses Traffic Congestion at Schools

Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, addressed concerns today about heavy traffic surrounding Fairfax County Public Schools and the role of crossing guards. The following is his open letter to the community:

I have received a great deal of feedback from the community and your local Board of Supervisors members regarding traffic congestion in and around certain schools since the start of the school year. I share your concerns over the safety of your children, pedestrians, and commuters in these areas and have discussed these issues with the Board of Supervisors.

Extra Police Personnel

I want to share with you that the Police Department is taking action to address the immediate safety and congestion concerns at all schools. I have directed extra police personnel to staff specific locations in and around schools where traffic direction and control is clearly needed to support the safe crossing of children while maintaining a balance of efficient traffic flow.

Some Crossing Guards Will Direct Traffic

In addition, our long-term strategic solution includes developing a plan to increase the job duties and training of certain crossing guard positions. This would allow some crossing guard positions to direct and control traffic, in addition to crossing children.

As your Chief of Police, I am committed to providing additional staffing at any school requiring support. We will continue assessing critical areas throughout the county and work closely with the community, including your local Board of Supervisor member, to improve safety for our schoolchildren while mitigating traffic flow issues.

We welcome your input. Your local district station commander and I will continue to follow-up on your concerns. Should you questions or suggestions please contact me.

Sincerely,

Colonel Edwin C. Roessler, Jr.

Chief of Police

Fairfax County Police Department