The student body at a Point Pleasant Beach school honored a local police officer who was recently appointed as their crossing guard.

The students gathered at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk Wednesday to sign their names on a banner to honor Point Pleasant Beach Officer David Pinto. The students say that he is their favorite officer because he is nice and helps people.

“He's really truly a notch above and someone who clearly enjoys being with our kids,” says Superintendent Will Smith.

Officer Pinto’s superiors say that he is more than just a school crossing guard and more than just a police officer – he’s a representative of the community of Point Pleasant Beach.

“I’ve heard from parents [that their] kids get out of bed because Officer Pinto is going to be here,” says Chief Joseph Michigan.

But Officer Pinto remains modest and says that he is just doing his job.

“We are just regular people. We clock in and out just like everybody else,” he says. “That’s just really nice that they can connect with us.”

Officer Pinto says that the police department encourages community policing. He says that he feels lucky to have the job of protecting the students on their way to and from school.