The Churchill County Sheriff's Office welcomed two new deputies, Joseph Ludlow and Hillary Fulgham, during a swearing-in ceremony Monday, Nov. 9, led by Sheriff Lee Orozco.
The two deputies come from different professional backgrounds. Ludlow comes from a career as a certified public accountant; Fulgham comes from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Orozco said Ludlow's background brings skills in accountability, attention to detail, and analysis, while Fulgham's military experience provides a foundation in service, teamwork, and responsibility. "Their paths to this profession are different, but today those paths come together under the same badge and the same oath," Orozco said.
Before administering the oath, Orozco spoke about the meaning of the seven-point star worn by Churchill County deputies. Although there is no single historical definition for its seven points, he said they can represent seven qualities that should guide every deputy: integrity, courage, fairness, compassion, competence, accountability, and service.
Drawing on the principles of Sir Robert Peel, whose work helped establish the foundation for modern policing in 1829, Orozco explained that law enforcement relies on the confidence and cooperation of the public. "A deputy is not separate from the community or placed above it," Orozco said, reminding the new deputies that the authority represented by their badges belongs to the people they serve.
He told Ludlow and Fulgham that residents will often encounter them during frightening, painful, or uncertain moments and may remember how they were treated long after the encounter. "That badge is therefore not simply a symbol of authority; it is a symbol of trust," he said.
Orozco also reminded the deputies that their education in law enforcement is only beginning and encouraged them to learn from their training officers, supervisors, fellow deputies, and the community.
The ceremony concluded with Ludlow and Fulgham taking the oath of office and receiving their badges.
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