Grant County Sheriff's Office

Nearly 10,000 court documents a year pass through the Civil Process Division of the Grant County Sheriff's Office in Silver City, New Mexico, which serves papers for the county's magistrate and district courts and also handles courtroom security and prisoner transports. Courthouse security officers protect the public, staff and property at the Sixth Judicial District Courthouse. Patrol, overseen by two lieutenants and four sergeants, runs 24 hours a day; deputies secure crime scenes, preserve evidence, take initial interviews and write the first reports, and residents reach the on-duty deputy through Central Dispatch. The Criminal Investigations Division takes the county's more serious cases, from crime scene processing and photography to interviews and court testimony, with a detective on call at all hours. Deputies teach D.A.R.E. in local classrooms, talking with children about peer pressure, bullying, drugs and violence, and volunteer reserve deputies train in constitutional and state law, county ordinances, firearms and defensive tactics before supporting full-time staff. Sex offender registration is by appointment, and the evidence unit returns property only with court paperwork and the approval of the District Attorney.