Firefighter teaching the next generation of public servants at TPS

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A Toledo firefighter spent more than three decades helping the community, and now he’s answering a different calling. Andre Tiggs is the Public Safety 419 instructor at Toledo Public Schools, helping future public servants launch their careers.

Public Safety 419 is a class that teaches students about the ins and outs of careers in law enforcement, the court system, and firefighting.

“We’re able to recruit individuals from your community to work for the community and that’s another way of giving back,” said Mr. Tiggs, the instructor of the program.

Tiggs has been the teacher since P.S. 419 started, and is now in his fourth year.

“I saw actually 13 News was doing a feature story about TPS starting up public safety programs … all the qualifications that they were looking for and requested, I met,” Mr. Tiggs said.

Before teaching P.S. 419, Mr. Tiggs spent more than three decades as a firefighter. He went through both the Toledo fire and police academies to become a fire investigator.

Now he’s mentoring the next generation of public servants. After they graduate from his program, Tiggs said he’s watched students celebrate passing their academy exams and moving on to their careers in public safety.

“Warms my heart even bigger when they’ve successfully completed the academy and they’re going to their graduation,” Mr. Tiggs said. “That’s my biggest fulfillment.”

Just this year, Mr. Tiggs watched Alex Hinds, a P.S. 419 graduate complete the corrections academy.

Hinds said he was inspired to join the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office after hearing a deputy speak in class. “You have something to start with, you’re in school, you’re here, you might as well have fun while you’re doing it and you’re learning something … And you can start your career as soon as you leave high school and that’s what I did,” Hinds said.

Mr. Tiggs said all seven of his graduating students from his last class are working towards their careers, whether that be in public safety, the military, college, or other careers. He’s happy to see them fly.

“They’re all my babies,” Mr. Tiggs said.

His students feel his support.

“Mr. Tiggs is definitely one of a kind, and he’d do anything to get us where we’re at … if you want to get somewhere in public safety, Mr. Tiggs is the guy,” Hinds said.

The P.S. 419 program is based at Bowsher High School, but any high schooler in TPS can participate in the program and get bussed over to Bowsher.

The program starts during students’ sophomore years and runs until graduation.

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