Big day for Evans, Light

NORWALK — Handshakes and warm embraces marked ceremonies Monday morning at the Huron County Sheriff's Office, with a new deputy and a new patrol lieutenant sworn in. Sheriff Todd Corbin presented a certificate of promotion to Sgt. Ted Evans and new on-duty and off-duty badges to new deputy Micki Light. Both were greeted by officials of the sheriff's office, a Norwalk Police sergeant and Norwalk city officials. As the sheriff and other members of the office leadership gathered, they were joined by Sgt. Justin Fulton of the NPD, Norwalk Safety Service Director Mike White, and Norwalk Mayor Dave Light. The mayor is the new deputy's father. "I've been here in some capacity since 2009," said Evans, who began investigating the career on layoff from his previous job, having lived next to then-Sheriff Dane Howard. Howard encouraged him to sign on as a sworn special deputy and the future lieutenant would go on to work in the jail, on patrol, in the detective bureau and as a sergeant, beginning in 2018. "It's not one of those stories where I always wanted to be a cop," said Evans, a native of New London. "He's a great kid," said Evans' mother, Mary Reynolds. "I'm very proud of him. I think he's worked very hard to be where he is." Reynolds said she is confident in her son's abilities on the job. Evans' stepfather, Bob Reynolds, was a deputy at the Huron County Sheriff's Office for about five years. He echoed his wife's comments. "He's grown up to be quite a man." "I have nothing but the highest expectations for you," said Corbin, upon swearing in Light. Turning to her parents (Dave and Kim), the sheriff said, "I say this from my heart; thank you for trusting me with your daughter. "I know she'll do an excellent job," said Corbin to the mayor, who himself retired as Norwalk Police Chief. "We'll make sure she's taken care of." Light, who begins her career as a road deputy, just out of the Sandusky Academy, was all smiles Monday morning. "I'm very excited," the new deputy said. "It's really an honor to be here. I've heard a lot of things about the (Huron County) Sheriff's Office; all good things." Lt. Bill Duncan said he was pleased with staffing levels normalizing with a number of new hires and promotions within the HCSO. "I don't think that we've had this many deputies on road patrol since I've worked here," Duncan said.