The City of Lima currently dedicates more than half of its annual budget to safety services.
LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Lima's mayor gave an update on her administration's work in several areas, including public safety.
Smith's administration has also been involved in securing raises for the Lima Police Department and allowing lateral hires to help bring even more new officers to Lima.
The City of Lima currently dedicates more than half of its annual budget to safety services. In the first half of the year, nine police officers and five firefighters were hired. Smith's administration has also been involved in securing raises for the Lima Police Department and allowing lateral hires to help bring even more new officers to Lima. She says policy changes aimed at strengthening safety services have been going on since 2021 and appear to be showing positive results.
Mayor Sharetta Smith, City of Lima.
"From 2022 to 2023, we experienced a 10% decrease in crime. In the first six months of this year, we're on track, and we have experienced a 10% decrease in overall crime as well. I talked about earlier while crime is down, homicides are up. In 2022 and in 2023, there were two homicides. In 2024, we've had five," stated Mayor Sharetta Smith, City of Lima.
Smith will also be joining a bipartisan group of mayors to speak to Governor DeWine in August about the issue of gun violence in Ohio and possible solutions.Â
