Lea County Sheriff's Department

Sheriff Rod Coffman presents Rose Chavez-Surratt with a plaque in honor of her years of service, and for being the first female deputy to retire from Lea County Sheriff's Department.

Rose Chavez-Surratt served the people of Lea County through law enforcement from August 1, 1986 through retirement from full time duty on May 18, 2006. She served the Lea County Sheriff’s Department first as a dispatcher, and then as a commissioned Deputy Sheriff, completing the law enforcement certification academy at the age of 40 years. To the best of our knowledge, Rose Chavez-Surratt is the first female Deputy Sheriff to reach retirement in that capacity with the Lea County Sheriff’s Department. By such effort and dedication Rose blazed the trail for those who strive to follow in her footsteps, and she continues to serve the Lea County Sheriff’s Department and the people of Lea County when called upon to do so.