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Fairfax County is exploring a new class of community safety officers who could handle non-emergency duties and ease pressure on a police department facing persistent recruiting challenges.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously directed county staff on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to study the idea. Community safety officers would have fewer powers than sworn law-enforcement personnel but could assist with parking enforcement, noise complaints, traffic direction and community outreach.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said similar programs elsewhere in the region and across the country suggest the concept could have merit. He has discussed it with senior police officials and union leaders, who are open to examining the option.
Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, chair of the board’s safety and security committee, said shifting ancillary duties to community safety officers could help address staffing pressures within the Fairfax County Police Department.
The positions could be paid or volunteer roles. They might also help the county respond to difficulties recruiting and retaining school crossing guards.
County staff will compare the possible officers’ duties and training with those of auxiliary police officers. Auxiliary officers are volunteers who receive about 200 hours of training before assisting sworn personnel.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay said the proposal is not intended to replace the county’s established auxiliary police program, which has substantial training and qualification requirements. A community safety role could instead attract people interested in serving without making that level of commitment.
No date has been set for staff to report back to supervisors. Walkinshaw cautioned that establishing such a program would probably take several years and said the review should not be interpreted as a predetermined decision to proceed.
Crossing guard shortages drive broader debate
The discussion also turned to possible privatization of the school crossing guard program, which is currently overseen by the police department.
Amid difficulties meeting demand, the department has reduced crossing guard coverage and sometimes assigned sworn officers to locations when no guards are available.
County staff are preparing a request for proposals that could lead to a privatization pilot program by the end of the calendar year.
Separately, County Executive Bryan Hill’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget would eliminate crossing guards at 22 public high schools. The change would cut 16 positions and save an estimated $842,581.
County officials say Fairfax is the only major Northern Virginia jurisdiction that provides crossing guards at high schools. The proposed reductions would not affect elementary or middle schools.