Kathleen Byers, Toronto’s 65-year-old dancing crossing guard, is now on the sidelines.

Byers had been dancing on the job for four years to the delight of students and parents in the Dufferin St.-Dundas St. W. area, but not the Toronto Police Service which runs the crossing guard program.

Police said her dancing could distract motorists and put students’ safety at risk. Byers said she toned down her moves and believed there was an uneasy truce.

Then last week, she was suspended shortly after she appeared in a music video for a song by local indie-rock band Born Ruffians. In the clip she wears her hand-held stop sign and reflective vest, which are police property and, according to police, shouldn’t have been used without permission.

Instead of fighting the suspension, Byers handed in her resignation Tuesday after 10½ years on the job, most recently helping students get to and from Alexander Muir/Gladstone Avenue school and Grove Community School.

In an interview, Byers said she couldn’t resist the offer to be in a video with the band, Born Ruffians, that was shot in late March.

“I thought it was the funnest offer ever for a great-grandmother to get,” she said. “We did it in one take, it was a good beat so it was an easy shoot. And it was fun. But I think it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the police.”

Police spokesman Mark Pugash said Byers’ supervisor had stressed that her role was crossing guard, not entertainer, and “she did not take that advice.”

Pugash added that appearing in the music video with her equipment is not allowed without permission.

“The overarching concern is the safety of the children she is crossing,” Pugash said. “I’m sure with some people it will not be a popular decision but it’s the right decision.”

Byers said she has not had any incidents in her almost four years of dancing or the six years before that when she was a nondancing crossing guard.

Sunny Horvath, a parent and neighbour of Byers, said she was loved in the community. About 100 people turned out to a lunchtime dance party in December in a show of support.

“It’s sad,” Horvath said. “She always had a smile and bright outfit. She was like a friendly grandmother to everybody. Her energy is going to be totally missed.”

Byers said she decided to resign rather than get into a battle. “To fight it would have been stressful. I just don’t want that at my age.”

Horvath predicted Byers will bounce back.

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“She’s retired now, she did it for fun, not the money and I think she’ll come back in some other way. Maybe she’ll teach dance to senior citizens.”