LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The City of Lima is giving high school students a firsthand look at careers in public safety through its GenNext 911 Day.
Area high school juniors and seniors participated in the event, which included tours of the Lima Police Department and Fire Department. Officers and firefighters explained their daily responsibilities, demonstrated equipment used on the job, and shared their personal reasons for choosing careers in law enforcement and firefighting.
Students also shared their own aspirations to serve their community.
Officers and firefighters explained their daily responsibilities, demonstrated equipment used on the job, and shared their personal reasons for choosing careers in law enforcement and firefighting.
“Well, I've always been thinking about going into law enforcement, even if that just meant being a dispatcher, which is what I originally wanted to be,” said Lexi Jackson, a junior at Lima Senior High School. “I think it’s a really good experience to actually see what they do on a daily basis — how it may be different from what you see versus what they see, hear, and know.”
Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith said events like Gen-Next 9-1-1 Day are part of a long-term effort to build the city’s future workforce.
"It's important for the city as an employer to always be looking 10 to 20 years ahead in terms of recruitment, so that we have a strong bench that is ready to take these positions once retirements happen," Smith said.
The city offers to cover training costs for those hired as police officers or firefighters.
The city offers to cover training costs for those hired as police officers or firefighters. Both departments are currently hiring. For more information, visit the City of Lima’s website, limaohio.gov, and search for job opportunities.
