Meet Lifeguard Issa Williams

The next time you are at the Summit Family Aquatic Center be sure to look out for sixth-year lifeguard Issa Williams.  Williams was the third member of his family to become a lifeguard, but the first to work at the SFAC.

"I like that there is always something to do," said Williams. "Whether it's helping someone with a Band-Aid or cleaning out the gutters.  You get a lot of freedom, too.  Keith, Mr. C., or whoever the manager is at the time guide you along the way."

During his time at the SFAC, Williams has made two saves.

"The first was in the Leisure Pool and it was memorable because it was a rainy day and there were only 5 or 6 people here," said Williams.  "A guy turned his back for one second and his younger son went under so I just went in and scooped him up really quick.  The other one was at the diving board.  A little girl went off the slide and couldn't swim so her friend jumped in to save her.  They ended up grabbing on to each other and both going down so I went in and got them both out."

Williams is a 2006 graduate of Summit High School, and a 2008 graduate from Union County College.  He is currently finishing his bachelor's degree at West Virginia University where he is a senior majoring in criminology.  He would like to be a police officer after graduation.

"I had an internship earlier in the summer with the sheriff's department," said Williams.  "It's a 136-hour program and I get three college credits for it.  I work with different sections of the sheriff's department and it's unique because it's not municipal; they cover the entire county.  I work with the K-9 Unit, the Identification Bureau, Court Security, Warrants, and that kind of thing.  It was eye-opening."

Williams has been able to see a great deal of the inner functions of the sheriff's department, but he is no stranger to law enforcement.  Williams has been a Summit auxiliary police officer for about two years now.

"That's more hands-on," said Williams. "I actually get to work.  I have a uniform and everything.  I'm in the Academy right now actually.  I should be graduating on August 12."

Williams is attending the Auxiliary Police Academy, where he goes twice a week to learn some of the basic police techniques.  The Auxiliary police are trained in everything from traffic safety to emergency management.  After graduation from West Virginia, Williams will still need to attend the Police Academy to become a full-time officer, but that is not something he is worrying about quite yet.

"I was actually thinking of joining the Coast Guard when I graduate," said Williams, "to give me a buffer from college."

Even though Williams has dedicated most of his time to his future career, he still finds time for his friends.  He spends a lot of time devoted to music, and helps with the promotional work for a band that his friends manage.

"My really good friends are managers for a group called Airplay," said Williams. "We have a YouTube page, a Facebook page, and a MySpace page and a few days ago they just released a mixed tape.  It's just something I do on the side, but hopefully in lands in the right person's hands and they get big one day."

If Williams isn't working, you might find him eating at La Focaccia or just hanging out with his friends.  Be sure to catch him before he goes back to school and stay tuned to Patch for more lifeguard profiles.