Crossing guard gets to keep funny hats

LITTLESTOWN , Pa., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The Littlestown Borough Council in Pennsylvania has voted to allow a school crossing guard to continue wearing his trademark silly hats to work.

Larry Douthwaite, who has worked as a crossing guard in Littlestown for 15 years, said he is known as the "Hat Man" to children and residents because of his collection of funny hats, including a 2-foot-tall stovepipe hat and a pharaoh-style head covering, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, Pa., reported Wednesday.

However, he said borough officials told him two weeks ago that he could not wear any hats on the job other than his borough-issued "school patrol" hat after labeling his on the job headgear as unprofessional and a distraction to drivers.

Douthwaite and his supporters took the case to the Littlestown Borough Council, which voted unanimously Tuesday to allow the crossing guard to continue to sport his funny hats at the crosswalk. He said he planned to celebrate the victory Wednesday by wearing his pharaoh hat to work.