Churchill County Sheriff candidate Michael Davis spoke to members of the Churchill County Republican Central Committee. Because of a scheduling conflict, he was unable to attend the CCRCC forum held July 16, where candidate and incumbent Sheriff Lee Orozco shared his background and vision for the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office.
During the Aug. 20 meeting, Davis shared the path that brought him to law enforcement and what he would like to change — and preserve, if elected in November.
Long before Davis became a patrol sergeant, he owned a construction business in Minden. In that role, he managed employees, budgets, and scheduling until the economic downturn hit the construction industry and prompted him to change careers. He spent over four years as a corrections officer at the Lovelock Correctional Center, then joined the Churchill County Sheriff's Office in June 2013.
Davis began his tenure with CCSO in the detention center. His work there included serving as a field training officer, court bailiff, and gang unit liaison. There, he earned his Nevada Peace Officer Standards and Training Category I certificate, which allowed him to move into general law enforcement duty.
Davis talked about family, raising his children and coaching sports, including soccer. Soccer was unfamiliar territory for Davis. When he was asked to coach, he joked that he had to read “Soccer for Dummies” to learn the game. He told the group that working with young athletes with different personalities and abilities helped develop skills he later carried into leadership roles in law enforcement.
Davis was named Deputy of the Year in 2019 and joined the Nevada North Central Narcotic Task Force in 2021. Davis returned to patrol after his promotion to sergeant in 2022. He said then-Sheriff Richard Hickox asked him to return to patrol to help with leadership and morale.
Davis has also served as vice president and president of the Churchill County Sheriff’s Deputies Association, where he participated in contract negotiations with the county. He noted that he stepped down from his association position after announcing his candidacy for Sheriff.
As Sheriff, Davis said public safety would come first, particularly investigations involving violent crimes and crimes against children. He wants additional investigative training for deputies and more patrol coverage in residential neighborhoods, although he acknowledged that putting more deputies in neighborhoods will require more staffing.
Speeding is another concern Davis said he hears regularly from residents. He would like to establish a motor unit and obtain a radar trailer that could be moved to areas where speeding is a problem.
But staffing, both hiring and keeping the people the department already has, has received particular attention from Davis. He wants employees to have opportunities to move in different directions within the agency, receive additional training, and prepare for future leadership roles.
Davis said he wants deputies and staff to “come to the Sheriff's Office and build their career here as well as raise their families in our beautiful community.”
That also ties into how Davis sees the Sheriff’s job.
During a question-and-answer session, Davis was asked about the Sheriff's Office's use of license plate readers. Davis said he couldn't care less whether Churchill County had the readers, but as a law enforcement officer, he likes the technology because it can assist deputies when needed. He also discussed safeguards intended to prevent misuse.
His support, however, has a limit.
“If factual, credible information was presented indicating they were accessing personal information,” Davis said he would take the readers down himself if they were found to violate “the citizens of this county's constitutional rights.”
Davis ended where much of his presentation began — with leadership. He told the committee he believes the Sheriff should stay involved with the people doing the work, be willing to step in when needed, and remain visible in the community rather than becoming solely an administrator.
Sometimes, Davis said, that means rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.
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