LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - The Lima Noon Optimist held their Respect for Law program on Wednesday, and brought in a man who taught kids to respect safety in Lima in the 80's and 90's.
In 1985, Robert Butler, or better known as Officer Bob, worked with kids at Safety City to teach them the importance of safety when dealing with traffic, guns, fire, and strangers. He also earned their respect during his lessons. Officer Bob has been retired for 25 years now and always gets recognized when he is out and about, and he still looks out for the kids that he taught at Safety City.
In 1985, Robert Butler, or better known as Officer Bob, worked with kids at Safety City to teach them the importance of safety when dealing with traffic, guns, fire, and strangers.
"Two ladies saw me, and they came right over and give me a big old hug," said Butler. "They were in my Safety City class, and she has five kids. I said, 'you have any problems with these kids?' [She said,] 'My 11 year old's getting kind of rowdy.' Okay, sweetheart, I'll take care of that for you right now, and I've been called away from my dinner at Cracker Barrel. 'Officer Bob, can you talk to my son?' To this day, I've been retired since 2000 and I still have unbelievable amount of people that knows me and loves me and I love them."
The Optimist Club helps back Safety City, and Butler says that they have been instrumental in the success of Safety City over a 50 year history.
"Willis Meier and I also had a bicycle rodeo- it was not for speed, it was coordination, ability to ride," Butler said. "The Optimist Club would fully back me on all that they were always out there to help me."
This past summer, Safety City named their training center after Officer Bob, for his dedication to helping the kids in the Lima area for over 40 years.
