On Sept. 11, 2001, our nation mourned the loss of

2,973 lives in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Flight 93.

Among the fatalities were 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters, 23 New York City Police Department officers and 37 Port Authority Police Department officers, according to wikipedia.org.

Certainly, Sept. 11, is a worst-case scenario. While police officers and firefighters do not face terrorist attacks on a daily basis, they do put their lives on the line.

They never know what they will be getting into when they respond to a domestic violence call, pull over a speeding vehicle or put out a fire.

The City of Selma has 18 vacancies between the Police Department and Fire Department, but applicants just looking for a job need not apply.

The police and fire chiefs say they are looking for career-minded individuals, with good work ethics and good character. They also want to work on retention of officers.

Raising starting salaries is a good first step, but more must be done to recruit – and keep – good officers.