"Imagine caring for the safety of children at a bustling intersection every day—that's exactly what Jose Acevedo did for nearly a decade. After nine challenging years of standing firm against harsh weather and navigating through relentless traffic, this dedicated crossing guard has decided to retire and hang up his reflective vest.
Recently, the Bristol Borough Council honored Acevedo with a formal proclamation, celebrating his invaluable contributions to the community and acknowledging his unwavering commitment to keeping local children safe.
Jose served as a crossing guard for the police department from September 26, 2016, until December 8, 2025. The official proclamation praised his "extraordinary and faithful nine years of service" and expressed gratitude for his efforts in safeguarding the youth of Bristol Borough.
Acevedo was stationed at the crucial intersection of Buckley and Beaver streets, where he expertly managed three separate crossing points for students coming from various directions.
"He’s on that corner at Buckley and Beaver every day, and it’s a tough corner," remarked Chief of Police Joe Moors. "I want everyone to know that Jose had to handle three intersections, with children crossing from three different locations. It's not always easy when drivers speed through school zones along Beaver Street and Pond Street."
During the council meeting, Acevedo wore a special T-shirt given to him by a former student he had helped cross the street from first through sixth grade. He shared that making the decision to retire was no easy feat, primarily due to the impact that cold weather was having on his health. "I’ve got a lot of great kids," he reflected. "It’s not something I wanted to do, but the weather has really taken a toll on me, so I made the difficult choice to step down. But I miss it. I miss the kids and the parents and everything that comes with it."
In his farewell remarks, Acevedo spoke about a concerning trend he has noticed in driver behavior. He highlighted some alarming statistics, revealing that between 1993 and 2008, 120 crossing guards lost their lives while on duty across the nation, averaging around eight fatalities each year. He emphasized that these dangers predominantly arise from distracted and aggressive driving.
"In the last couple of years, I've seen that some drivers have become increasingly aggressive," Acevedo pointed out. "We’ve had instances where drivers go around us, or they don’t come to a full stop and keep creeping forward instead." While expressing his deep appreciation for the support of the local police department, he left a heartfelt message for drivers: "For the drivers out there, just pretend those kids crossing are your own."
Acclaimed journalist Tom Sofield, who has reported news in Bucks County for over 12 years across various newspapers and online platforms, contributed to this story. He takes pride in sharing news from his home county and providing the community with a reliable source of information.
