LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – The Lima Noon Optimist Club held its “Respect for Law” program Thursday, and heard from an officer who taught safety to children in Lima in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1985, Robert Butler — better known as “Officer Bob” — worked with kids at Safety City to teach the importance of safety regarding traffic, guns, fire and strangers. Butler also earned their respect during his lessons.
Officer Bob has been retired for 25 years but is still recognized when he’s out in the community. He said he continues to look out for the kids he once taught at Safety City.
“Two ladies saw me, Officer Bob. They come right over and give me a big old hug. They were in my safety city class, and she has five kids. I said, you have any problems with these kids? 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. Walter Bob, can you talk to my son? Absolutely to this day, I've been retired since 2000 I still have unbelievable amount of people that knows me and love me and I love them,” says Robert Butler, Officer Bob.
The Optimist Club has long supported Safety City. Butler said the club has been instrumental in the program’s success throughout its more than 50-year history.
“Willis Meier and I also had a bicycle rodeo. It was not for speed, it was coordination, ability to ride. The Optimist club would fully back me on all that they were always out there to help me,” adds Butler.
This past summer, Safety City named its training center after Officer Bob to honor his dedication to helping the children of the Lima area for more than 40 years.
