At their special meeting Friday, Churchill County Commissioners named Lee Orozco as the new County Sheriff, filling the position left by the untimely passing of Sheriff Richard Hickox on April 11, 2026.
Tenth District Court Judge Tom Stockard administered the oath to Sheriff Orozco before a room filled with local law enforcement agency representatives and the Hickox family showing their support for the appointment.
Orozco will serve in the position until the first Monday in January 2027 when the successful candidate in November’s general election is sworn in. Sheriff Orozco has been with Churchill County for 30 years and served as the undersheriff to Sheriff Hickox since 2022.
Due to the death of Sheriff Hickox, the only candidate for Churchill County Sheriff that will appear on the June primary ballot, votes casted in his name will NOT be counted during the upcoming primary election held on June 9, 2026.
New candidates for Churchill County Sheriff may be included on the General Election ballot if declarations of candidacy are filed between 8 a.m. on June 15, 2026, and before 5 p.m. on July 24, 2026.
Funeral services for Sheriff Richard C. Hickox Jr. are scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the 3C Event Complex, 227 Sheckler Rd, Fallon.
