A beloved school crossing guard, who died tragically while on the job last fall after being hit by a truck, has been promoted in rank four months after her death.

Krystyna Naprawa, 63, worked as a school crossing guard with the NYPD for almost 13 years.

What You Need To Know

  • A beloved school crossing guard, who died tragically while on the job last fall after being hit by a truck, has been promoted in rank four months after her death

  • Her family accepted the award in her honor at One Police Plaza in Manhattan Thursday

  • Police officials announced changes to policies and procedures to increase safety for crossing guards and pedestrians, including more oversight and longer training and the hiring of 100 new crossing guards

Now, NYPD officials are working to prevent something similar from happening to another crossing guard.  

She was killed while working as a crossing guard in October. Her family accepted the award in her honor at One Police Plaza in Manhattan Thursday.

“It was a tragedy for everybody,” said Rose Charles, a school crossing guard. “It was a terrible tragedy.”

According to police, Naprawa had just safely escorted several pedestrians across Atlantic Avenue at Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens when a dump truck turned the corner, hit and killed her.

Her friends said it’s a tragic reminder of the risks that come with the job for the city’s more than 2,000 crossing guards.

The truck driver involved in the incident was later arrested and charged with failure to use due care and failure to yield to a pedestrian.

Naprawa immigrated to the U.S. from Poland about 40 years ago and settled in Queens, where she raised her children.

“Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, all school crossing guards will be required to attend an annual refresher course,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said.

Police officials announced changes to policies and procedures to increase safety for crossing guards and pedestrians, including more oversight and longer training and the hiring of 100 new crossing guards.

Crossing guards will also be issued new equipment.

“Each crossing guard will be issued an 18-inch handheld stop sign to further increase visibility and control traffic around the crosswalk,” NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella said.

While happy about the changes, the union representing the city’s crossing guards said many people don’t understand the serious nature of the job.

“There needs to be money that’s put into just highlighting that it’s an A-felony to assault a school crossing guard, whether it’s with your vehicle, whether you get out and assault them physically with your hands,” said Donald D. Nesbit, executive vice president of Local 372.

Police officials said they have two dozen more hires to make before they hit their goal of hiring 100 new crossing guards.

Training is a six-week process.