The Lyon County Commission honored Capt. Johnny Smith, far right, on Oct. 6, 2022 for his service.
The Lyon County Commission on Thursday honored Capt. Johnny Smith for 26 years of service to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and community.
Smith has retired and was recognized by Sheriff Frank Hunewill and the commissioners with a plaque Thursday after his career that began as a control room officer in 1995. The following year, the LCSO hired him as a reserve deputy in the Lyon County jail.
“A year later, I became a sworn deputy and went to patrol,” Smith told the Appeal. “I worked most of my career in the Fernley area and then became a sergeant in 2007 and then became a lieutenant in 2013.”
Near the end of former Sheriff Al McNeil’s term in office, Smith was promoted to commander, and Hunewill would make him a patrol captain and eventually a special operations captain. In all, Smith said he served almost 28 years including his CRO service as a civilian.
“It’s been an awesome ride, a lot of good memories, it truly has,” he said. “That’s the one thing. I grew up here. I was 22 when I started. I’m leaving with awesome memories here. Awesome camaraderie with the folks that I’ve worked with throughout the years. It’s just been wonderful.”
Asked where he felt he made the biggest impact on Lyon’s communities, he said it was a chance to mentor LCSO’s deputies.
“When I became a sergeant, I got the chance to become a leader and a mentor to the deputies out there on the street,” he said. “And then when I became a lieutenant, I was more going into administrative work in the substations, but it still afforded me the chance to get to know the deputies out there and still get to know the community.
“I could still be an ambassador for the community and for the city of Fernley and Silver Springs and Dayton and so forth, but all throughout my career, I felt like every corner, I had the opportunity to make a difference.”
The board thanked Smith for his professionalism and attitude and wished him well heading into retirement.
“I always appreciated your honesty,” Commissioner Robert Jacobson, representing District 4, said. “You weren’t afraid of feelings. You were more worried about being right and doing the right thing and I greatly respect you for that. I can only imagine how much you are going to be missed.”
