Baca County Sheriff Aaron Shiplett and the Sheriff’s Office have announced that Deputy Keagan Gonzales, formerly of Eads, has been promoted to Undersheriff of Baca County. He was sworn into his new role at the Baca County Courthouse July 15 by County Clerk Sharon Dubois. 

Gonzales started with the Sheriff’s Office as a detention deputy in 2015, where he proved to be a valuable asset to the jail operations. 

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In 2019, he was hired by the Springfield Police Department, and was sent to the law enforcement academy in Delta for education and training. Gonzales graduated the academy in December of 2019, becoming a certified peace officer serving the citizens of Springfield.

In June of 2021, Gonzales returned to the Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff, where he has shown his unquestionable integrity, outstanding work ethic, and constant willingness to take on leadership roles. 

According to Shiplett, Gonzales has, “proven time and time again that he has the knowledge, commitment, and leadership qualities to be an outstanding Undersheriff for the Sheriff’s Office and Baca County.” Shiplett is confident that Gonzales is the right person for this position, and that he will excel in his new role. 

The Sheriff’s Office also wished former Undersheriff Griffin all the best in his new position as Chief of Police of Springfield, and pledged to continue a commitment to work side by side with the Springfield Police Department to combat criminal activity in the communities.

Undersheriff Gonzales is a 2012 graduate of Eads High school, and the son of Shellie and David Engelhardt.