LIMA, Ohio – Lima Police Chief James Baker will officially retire on Friday after serving for more than 30 years.
Baker, who was born and raised in Lima, said he knew he wanted to serve and protect his hometown from an early age. That desire was sparked when he received a crossing guard badge in sixth grade.
He joined the Lima Police Department in May 1992 and has steadily progressed through the ranks, introducing new and innovative programs to boost the department’s efficiency and scope. His most notable contributions include the department’s advancement in digital investigations.
“If I would pick one, the one that has impacted the most, it has been technology, and my part to play in technology and where it’s headed and what we’re doing with that,” said the chief of police. “It has been the most force multiplier and helpful. So I’d call that a big one.”
At her weekly media briefing, Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith thanked Baker for his years of service and leadership. She expressed her confidence in the department’s direction and readiness for the upcoming leadership change.
“There’s just a sense of renewed energy and where we can go as a police department for the betterment of our community,” Mayor Smith told the crowd.
Major Zac Leland, a 15-year Lima Police Department veteran, will serve as interim chief beginning June 28. The department’s next chief will be selected following a promotional assessment exam on August 9. Both Major Ron Holman and Major Curt Hile are qualified candidates for the position.
