NPD hires new officer

Gabe Bond is Norwalk's 20th police officer. Bond was sworn in at a ceremony in Norwalk City Hall on Tuesday. The new officer was surrounded by dozens of family and friends as well as city officials and representatives from area law enforcement agencies. "Congratulations and welcome aboard," said Norwalk Police Chief Scott Dahlgren. "It's great to see this many people behind you. They all want to see you do great things and we know you will." Bond said he has always wanted to work in law enforcement. "This has been a lifelong dream of mine," Bond said after being sworn in by Mayor Dave Light. Next to Bond's side was his father, Jim Bond, who began his law enforcement career at the Huron County Sheriff's Office and then went on to work at the Monroeville Police Department before teaching law enfocement at EHOVE. EHOVE is where Gabe Bond went to police academy and was taught by his father. "It was awesome," Gabe Bond said. "I couldn't have asked for a better teacher." The younger Bond is a 2022 grad from St. Paul High School. As for his goals as a Norwalk Police officer, Bond says he just wants to "help as many people as I can, just try every day to make a difference." With Bond's hiring, the Norwalk Police Department is still down five officers. Dahlgren has said the police department will continue filling those vacancies this year and in 2025.