Dedicated to serving and protecting, the seasoned department shares its history with the wild and woolly history of the region. The Sheriff’s Department was there during the beginning of the State of New Mexico as it transitioned from a lawless territory to part of the Union. The department now spearheads the way to creating a safer county in Southeast New Mexico; the sheriff’s office heads numerous departments such as the patrol division which monitors streets and roads, the detective division which investigates crimes, as well as an animal control unit. The Sheriff’s Department also teaches and shares about what they do in the community by reaching out to local youth for presentations about the departments various responsibilities. The department teaches youth about armored vehicles, both patrol and SWAT units. They perform forensic tests for evidence with kids, such as dusting for fingerprints which is always popular with children. Members of the department even create fictitious crime scenes for youth to practice their own evidence collecting and documenting skills.