A former Clearwater police officer who was killed while working as a crossing guard was remembered Friday in Clearwater.

  • Crossing guard Doug Carey was killed at a Clearwater intersection
  • Hit-and-run driver struck him
  • CPD honored Carey and hopes to bring light to crossing guards and driver awareness in school zones

Doug Carey was killed May 20, 2014 on the northwest corner of Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road. Working as a school crossing guard that morning, Carey was killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Clearwater Police hope Friday's event, although solemn, celebrated Carey and reminds drivers to be more alert and aware of crossing guards and school zones where children are present.

"Drivers are so unpredictable and the dangers are just so incredibly real," said Clearwater Police Sgt. Kerri Spaulding. "We have [crossing guards] in as much safety gear as possible and they are extremely alert, but when something happens in a split-second, they do everything they can to keep the children protected, but it’s a situation that you’re reflexes can only get you out of the way so quickly."

Carey, 70, was a Clearwater officer from 1968 through 1987 and worked as a crossing guard for a few years before his death. He was well established in the community and had a wife and adult children.

According to police, Julious Johnson was driving a black Cadillac west on Gulf to Bay Boulevard at a high rate of speed around that day and ran a red light at Belcher Road.

The Cadillac collided with a Honda that was traveling in the opposite direction and turning north onto Belcher Road. That caused the Cadillac to leave the road and strike Carey, who was standing near a concrete pillar at the sidewalk adjacent to the intersection.

Two preschool girls, ages 2 and 4, were riding in the Cadillac, and the older girl was ejected. Johnson got out of the car, handed the younger child to a stranger, saying "please take care of my child," and fled the scene, according to a police report.

Johnson was apprehended and faces multiple charges in Carey's death.

A wreath was placed at the intersection and another was placed at a nearby Clearwater school.