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CNN Live Saturday

Safety Patrollers are Honored in D.C.

Aired May 04, 2002 - 17:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Another observance today, this in the nation's capital, honored a special group of people who protect school children. They're children themselves, safety patrollers. As CNN's Kathleen Koch reports, their bravery has both stopped crime and saved lives.

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KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The end of the school day can be stressful for 11-year-old Greg Whitaker, safety patrol captain of his Fairfax, Virginia, elementary school. That didn't keep him from thinking fast when a first grader was approached and questioned by a stranger.

GREG WHITAKER, SAFETY PATROLLER, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: I thought at first he knew the man in the van. But as the questions got more personal, I thought it wasn't right. So I said -- announced that we needed to leave. And so I took little boy home to his house. Memorized the license plate number, the description of the man, and the description of the vehicle.

KOCH: Greg called his principal who called police. The man was a wanted felon and Greg's tip led to his arrest.

DR. JANIS PAUSHTER, PRINCIPLE, FAIRHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: I thought what Greg did was incredible. It's hard for me to imagine that even an adult would have the presence of mind that Greg had to quickly assess the situation, get the little boy out of danger, and actually get the license plate.

KOCH: Saturday, Greg and five other safety patrollers from across the country were honored at the National Safety Parade in Washington for their quick action that saved lives; most pulling classmates out of the path of oncoming cars.

KATHRYN DELZOPPO, SAFETY PATROLLER: I didn't think much of it because I thought I was just doing what I was supposed to do.

KOCH (on camera): Organizers say honoring these safety patrollers here in the nation's capital was especially appropriate because many of them end up here.

CHARLES BUTLER, DIRECTOR, AAA: Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton were school safety patrols. KOCH: As were Virginia Senator John warner, and five Supreme Court justices.

BUTLER: It really builds leadership. It really instills discipline, and foremost I think it builds a concern for others.

KOCH: And, thanks to safety patrollers, pedestrian fatality rates near schools are the lowest they've ever been.

Though Greg...

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