0423 MPS-v3 - Flipbook - Page 6
Career in
Community Support
Mentor Fire EMT Academy offers seniors
a pathway to a fulfilling future
T
he decline in the number of new
applicants seeking positions in
police departments across the
nation has been well documented, but
it would surprise many to learn that fire
departments are experiencing a labor
shortage as well.
As little as 10 years ago, a full-time
firefighter position would have attracted
hundreds of candidates. Today, it may
only attract a few dozen. The city of Mentor is considered by many to be among
the most attractive places to work in Ohio
— and that is no accident — Mentor’s fire
and police departments are among the
best-trained and best-equipped in the region, but they know that they have to stay
ahead of the curve to ensure that public
safety remains Mentor’s top priority.
Mentor Fire Chief Robert Searles recognized the need for a recruitment/
retention program after reviewing a
National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) study which indicated a decline
in the number of people enrolling in
Firefighter/EMT coursework. With the
support of city council and administration, the department partnered with
Mentor Schools in 2020 to develop a
program to recruit the next generation
of safety forces. It helps interested students save time and money and guides
them into a career path that is both
challenging and rewarding.
The Mentor Fire EMT Academy combines classroom and laboratory activities to
provide students with a foundation in a career as a firefighter, EMT or EMS dispatcher.
The one-year program is available to seniors through the Lake Shore Compact.
Upon the successful completion of
the academy, students are eligible to
sit for Ohio certification testing as an
emergency medical technician (EMT)
— an important first step. In order to
work part-time for the Mentor Fire
Department, they are required to pass
a national registry and complete fire
school through one of several local
community colleges. In order to be
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Mentor Public Schools / Spring 2023
hired full-time, students must obtain
their paramedic certification, which
takes about another year.
The academy’s inaugural class graduated in June 2022 and one student is already engaged in new-hire training with
the Mentor Fire Department.
“Forward thinking partnerships like
these enhance the high-level of public
safety that our residents demand,” says
Mentor City Manager Kenneth J. Filipiak,
“They also further strengthen our community by encouraging our youth to consider a
career in public service right here at home.”
Mentor recognizes the importance of
fostering attractive career opportunities
as well as retaining talent right here in
our community. The Mentor Fire EMT
Academy is an ideal example of how to
accomplish that goal.
“Some of our best firefighters are
Mentor graduates,” adds Searles, “We
look forward to continuing that tradition well into the future.”
Learn more about the Mentor Fire EMT
Academy at lakeshorecompact.org.
