Leanna Lehman
Churchill County Sheriff Lee Orozco, who has 30 years with the department, has not only worked his way up through the ranks but has spent his entire law enforcement career serving the Lahontan Valley.
Orozco, who was appointed Sheriff in April following the death of former Sheriff Richard Hickox, now spends most of his time carrying out administrative duties. “There are more meetings now. Lots of work on budgets, administration, and I deal with the complaints and concerns from the public,” Orozco said, noting that the deputies get the technology and still get to do what Orozco jokingly described as the “cool stuff,” like putting handcuffs on bad guys.
After graduating from McQueen High School in Reno, Orozco planned to go into the military and later into law enforcement. However, his father became ill, and he went to work to help his family. Even though his course was altered, he didn’t let that keep him from building a career that would span three decades and eventually lead to his appointment as Sheriff.
During his time in law enforcement, Orozco has gained experience in virtually every aspect of the job, serving in the jail, working patrol, dealing with homicides, sexual assaults, domestic violence cases, narcotics investigations, plane crashes, train wrecks, and more. Now glad that he didn’t move through the ranks too quickly, he said, “Spending time in each position gave me a chance to really learn the job before moving to the next,” which has also given him the experience to guide and mentor those coming behind him.
His time with the North Central Nevada Narcotic Task Force was among his favorite assignments. “I used to say if they forgot about me over there, that would be okay,” he remarked.
It was also an assignment that taught him something about the people on the other side of the badge. Orozco worked with drug sellers and users and said there were people he genuinely wanted to see find their way out. “I want to help you hit rock bottom,” he recalled telling them. “The only way to go is up.”
That perspective was something he tried to maintain throughout his years in law enforcement, which often means meeting people on what may be the worst day of their lives. “I’ve helped people through really hard times and hard things,” he said. Even dealing with offenders, he said he has always tried to treat people with respect. “They may have had a bad day, but they are generally not bad people.”
Away from the Sheriff’s Office, Orozco said family is a big part of keeping that perspective, noting that cops don’t really have a traditional work-life balance. He is always on call — an emergency or event, at any time, could require his presence.
Orozco tries to play golf, fish, and hunt when he can get a tag. “It is important to get your focus away from work for a while,” he said. But family time remains a priority. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have taken over the roles of their own parents, hosting dinners and big holiday gatherings, keeping the family connection strong.
Orozco explained that his relationship with former Sheriff Richard Hickox stretched across much of his career and that they were also longtime friends. Orozco trained Hickox, and the two later became partners in investigations. Eventually, they worked together in administration.
Now appointed Sheriff and seeking election himself, Orozco said he views his candidacy as an extension of Hickox’s term. “I want to carry on his goals and vision.”
Looking ahead, Orozco said his plan is to serve four years and use that time to prepare deputies and command staff so they can do their jobs effectively regardless of who occupies the Sheriff’s Office. In his current role and if elected, Orozco seeks to maintain continuity within the Sheriff’s Office.
He has learned over the years, and even more so in his appointment, that as responsibilities increase, so does the need to rely on the people around you. “You have to have a command staff that is competent. I am lucky in that,” Orozco said. “You want people that know the job.”
Asked what is working well within the Sheriff’s Office, Orozco pointed to hiring.
The applicant pool has improved, he said, giving the office a better selection of candidates. Instead of receiving two or three applicants who might not make it through the background process, the office is now seeing roughly six to 10. Three new employees are also expected to come aboard this fall.
Still, the department’s biggest challenge remains. “Staffing is still the hard part,” Orozco said.
His goal is to fill positions rather than continually operate at bare-minimum staffing. Deputies work 12-hour shifts, something Orozco described as both a blessing and a curse. When staffing falls short, mandatory overtime is assigned through a rotating list, and another shift is a substantial burden for someone already working 12-hour days.
Orozco acknowledged the Sheriff’s Office does not have all the specialized assignments available at larger agencies, like SWAT and motorcade, which often draw officers to an agency. “I want them to come to our community not because of these programs, but because they want to stay here and raise their families.”
Continuing to update equipment and technology, including red-dot sights and less-lethal options such as Taser 10s, is also important for Orozco. He said the Sheriff’s Office is also implementing RapidSOS and Live911, which provide enhanced location information and allow 911 calls to reach deputies in the field, potentially reducing response times.
For now, Orozco’s primary vision for the Sheriff’s Office is to increase personnel and morale and ensure employees are in the right positions with the training they need.
“I’ve always believed I don’t serve the Sheriff as a person; I serve the office,” Orozco said. For him, success after four years would mean leaving the Sheriff’s Office prepared for whoever comes next.
“I want to be able to look back and know the office can run without me, that I’ve got the right people in the right spots with the right training.”
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