Churchill County sheriff candidates Lee Orozco and Michael Davis outlined their experience and priorities before about 110 people during the Fallon Chamber of Commerce luncheon Sept. 17 at Flyin’ Tiz Aviation at Fallon Municipal Airport.
Fallon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lucy Carnahan hosted the luncheon. After drawing cards to determine the speaking order, Orozco addressed the audience first, followed by Davis. Both candidates focused on staffing, training, technology, employee retention, and the demands expected from continued growth in Churchill County.
Orozco, who was appointed by the Churchill County Commissioners following the death of Sheriff Richard Hickox, described his 30 years with the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office. He said the office is down three positions, with two applicants undergoing background checks. Testing for additional applicants is scheduled for Oct. 3.
Orozco said the department lost six positions several years ago, but the Commissioners recently approved three positions — two deputies and a sergeant — as part of a renewed emphasis on public safety. He said the department had received 12 applications from people without prior law enforcement experience.
Recruitment problems are not unique to Churchill County, Orozco said, noting that law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada and the West have struggled to attract applicants. He said the county is looking for people who want to build careers, raise families, and remain in Churchill County.
Orozco also discussed the planned implementation of RapidSOS and Live911. The technology can improve caller location information, support two-way language translation, allow text-to-911 and video communication, and send dispatch information directly to patrol officers.
Davis, a sergeant with the Sheriff’s Office, described the path that brought him to Fallon and law enforcement. He attended college in Redding, California, and moved with his wife to Gardnerville in 1997. He later managed large-scale housing projects before the family moved to Fallon in 2009.
Davis worked at Lovelock Correctional Center for four years before joining the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office in 2013. His duties have included gang identification and validation, investigations, detention, and patrol. He completed Nevada Peace Officer Standards and Training requirements before moving to patrol in 2017.
Davis was named Deputy of the Year in 2019 and served as vice president and president of the Churchill County Sheriff’s Deputies Association, where he participated in negotiations involving wages and benefits. He later joined the Nevada North Central Narcotic Task Force and returned to the Sheriff’s Office as a sergeant in 2022.
Davis compared staffing levels with county growth. He said the Sheriff’s Office had 40 sworn officers and 20 reserve deputies in 1992, compared with 38 sworn officers and three reserve deputies today, while the county population has grown. He also cited a decline in the number of citations issued since 2012.
Speeding is the most common complaint reported to the Sheriff’s Office, Davis said. He also discussed coordinated service of search warrants, mental health programs for homeless and other vulnerable residents, and the possible return of an Explorer program for young people interested in law enforcement.
“I want to support competitive pay, build a culture of professionalism, and keep experienced deputies serving in Churchill County,” Davis said. “I am asking for your vote because the Sheriff’s Office needs experienced, present, accountable, and committed people who will serve this community.”
During a question-and-answer session, audience members asked about license plate readers, staffing, equipment, grants, mental health, and the effect of future development on public safety.
Davis said license plate readers can help find missing people, runaways, and criminal suspects, but he called for strict policies governing who may access the data and for what purpose. He said protecting residents’ constitutional rights would be one of his responsibilities as sheriff.
Orozco said the license plate reader system already has a policy and is audited each Monday to show who accessed information, the related case number, and the reason for the search. He said the office is considering limiting access further to address public concerns and that Motorola does not sell the Sheriff’s Office data.
The candidates also discussed whether the department should add a motorcycle or another patrol vehicle. Davis said a motorcycle costs about $30,000, compared with about $90,000 for a pickup, and could help with traffic enforcement and morale. Orozco noted that a motorcycle would generally be useful only from May through October.
Asked about a tactical team, Orozco said the issue extends beyond purchasing equipment. He said the team would require about 40 hours of training each month, taking deputies away from their regular duties. Without sufficient training, he said, a tactical team could become a liability rather than an asset.
Both candidates also discussed grants. Davis said many grants are limited to specific purposes and often provide $3,000 to $5,000, although one $80,000 grant paid for equipment and in-house training. Orozco said the department has used separate grants for equipment and active-assailant response training and will continue seeking grants to cover needs not funded through the county budget.
Orozco said the department has seven patrol deputies and remains three positions short. Two applicants are nearing the end of the hiring process, he said, and additional candidates will be tested Oct. 3.
Davis said the department is authorized for 11 or 12 deputies but currently has seven available for patrol. If elected, he said, he plans to send three or four recruits to peace officer training while he and members of his administration help staff the jail until the recruits can begin patrol work.
Both candidates said expected residential growth would increase demands on law enforcement and other community services. Orozco said the county would need to continue seeking additional positions as development moves forward.
The candidates also addressed employee well-being. Davis said staffing shortages make it difficult to provide time off for vacations, illness, and personal needs. Orozco said deputies are working 12-hour shifts and that he is trying to maintain morale while the department recruits additional personnel.
The luncheon concluded at about 1:15 p.m.
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