Staff Report
Churchill County Sheriff Lee Orozco announced Monday, June 15, that he will seek election to continue serving as the county's top law enforcement officer.
Orozco was appointed sheriff by the Churchill County Commission on April 17 following the death of Sheriff Richard Hickox. He is now among the candidates expected to seek the office during the special filing period, which opened June 15 and runs through July 24.
A 30-year veteran of the Churchill County Sheriff's Office, Orozco has served in a variety of assignments, including detention, patrol, narcotics investigations, criminal investigations, supervision, and executive leadership.
“I know this agency, I know this county, and I know the responsibility that comes with this office,” Orozco said. “The Sheriff’s Office is not just one division or one assignment. It is patrol, detention, investigations, civil responsibilities, emergency response, budgets, training, personnel, jail operations, and public accountability. The people of Churchill County deserve a Sheriff who understands the whole agency and is prepared to lead it.”
In announcing his campaign, Orozco identified public safety, employee recruitment and retention, and preparing the Sheriff's Office for future challenges as key priorities.
“Public safety is the foundation of everything we do,” Orozco said. “Families, businesses, schools, farmers, ranchers, and every resident of Churchill County depend on a Sheriff’s Office that is ready, capable, and accountable.”
Orozco also pointed to staffing challenges facing rural law enforcement agencies and said retaining experienced employees will remain a focus.
“Our deputies, detention staff, and support personnel are the backbone of this office,” Orozco said. “We have to recruit good people, train them well, hold them accountable, and give them a reason to build a career here.”
He said the office must continue improving areas such as 911 services, jail operations, training, technology, and long-term planning while balancing the traditions of rural law enforcement with increasingly complex demands, including mental health issues, jail medical responsibilities, and public records requirements.
“We can respect the traditions of this office and still make it stronger,” Orozco said. “My goal is practical progress that makes the Sheriff’s Office more prepared, more professional, and better able to serve the public.”
Orozco said he plans to meet with voters throughout the campaign and discuss his vision for the future of the Sheriff's Office.
“I am proud to serve this community,” Orozco said. “I am proud of the men and women of the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office. And I am asking the voters to allow me to continue leading this office with steady judgment, respect for our people, and a commitment to public safety first.”
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