Do you have the desire to serve and protect communities of giant redwoods, Victorian mansions and ocean beaches? If so, Humboldt County is for you.
When many people think of California, visions of high-end shopping on Rodeo Drive, sunning at Mission or Ventura Beach and the bright lights of Los Angeles come to mind. Although the Golden State offers these activities, a trek to the northwestern portion provides breathtaking ocean views, some of the world's largest redwood trees and exquisite architecture from times past. With stations in Eureka, McKinleyville, Hoopa and Garberville, as well as a small station in Blue Lake, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office patrols this land of gems and giants.
Humboldt County 3,572 square miles makes it larger than the two smallest states in the U.S. put together. This diverse range covers 120 miles of coastline, the most of any county, and the elevation ranges from sea level to 7,000 feet. Sandy beaches, redwood groves, two good-sized rivers and tribal land all co-exist in this county of approximately 135,000. A visit offers hiking, biking, camping, rafting, fishing or just experiencing the peace of the largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods in the world. A drive on the Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile portion of the original Highway 101, tenders a reminder of how small humans really are. If you're not satisfied with a short visit in these gentle giants, a job with the Sheriff might be exactly what you're looking for.
Places, Pay and Personnel
90 officers, 114 correctional officers and 60 civilian personnel make up the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. The main station, as well as the jail, resides in Eureka, a fantastic, seaside city hosting amazing architecture including the Carson Mansion and the Pink Lady. The Garberville station sits in town between natural wonders like the One Log House and the Grandfather Tree and the South Entrance of the Avenue of the Giants. Officers can also work out of Hoopa, McKinleyville and Blue Lake. While in the academy, Deputy Recruits make $2,700 per month. After graduating to a Deputy Sheriff One, pay increases to $3,200 per month and once the year and half probation period is completed, deputies advance to Deputy Sheriff Two and make $3,400 to $4,200 per month. Deputies earn shift differentials, tuition reimbursement and are covered by the State of California PERS retirement system.
Joining Humboldt County provides deputies with the opportunity for growth both personally and professionally. "The thing that drew me here was diversity," Undersheriff Michael Downey, a 23-year veteran of Humboldt County S.O. says. "There are many things you can get involved in. For an outdoors person, there is plenty of that here. Also, it is somewhat urban. It's the best of both worlds." New deputies attend a 23-week, non-residential academy at the College of the Redwoods, five miles south of Eureka. Although originally candidates had to graduate the academy prior to employment, Humboldt County now pays for recruits attending the academy. Lateral transfers are encouraged and depending on experience and training, California POST can be challenged. "It depends on where they are coming from," Downey says. "Recently an officer from Arizona successfully challenged California POST and didn't have to go through the academy."
When a deputy graduates the academy, they work one of three four-day, ten-hour shifts: 6am-4pm, 4pm-2am or 8pm-6am. Due to manpower, several 12-hour shifts are currently being worked. Shift bids are based on seniority and occur every six months. Along with patrol, positions in custody services, animal care and control, courts and criminal investigation exist.
A Humboldt County Sheriff's Deputy carries a Glock .22 .40 caliber pistol, a Remington 870 shotgun and a Colt AR15 rifle. Non-lethal equipment includes the TASER and OC spray, and deputies are trained in the bean bag shotgun. Deputies are dispatched out of the Emergency Communications Center located in the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka. In 2007, 14,515 9-1-1 calls were handled through the center.
Special assignments
Humboldt County S.O. offers a myriad of specialty units to keep deputies diversified and interested in their job. The Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) consists of one sergeant and two deputy sheriffs. The Crisis Response Team (CRT) is a 14-man tactical team consisting of two units: the Crisis Negotiation Team and the Special Enforcement Team. Both EOD and CRT work out of the main station and are on-call units. Deputies work on these teams while maintaining their regular duties. Deputies can also be assigned as a School Resource Officer. In Court Services, deputies work with the Civil Process section and court security. With the security updating almost complete at the county courthouse, there will be expanded opportunities to work in this assignment. As part of the Criminal Investigations Division, assignments involving major investigations are offered, as well as opportunities with the Drug Enforcement Unit. In 2007, 64 search warrants were served and 392,541 marijuana plants were seized by DEU. If water is more your calling, Humboldt County offers assignments in the Boating Safety Program and the Beach Patrol Program. If you like working with animals, the Animal Care and Control division would be perfect. This unit is responsible for the 14,000 square foot Animal Shelter, and provides a livestock deputy who patrols unincorporated rural areas conducting livestock investigations, assists animal control officers and aids in search and rescue. The Humboldt County S.O. staffs the Arcata-Eureka airport as well.
Correction staff work in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility located in Eureka. Opened in 1996, this facility operates under the direct supervision philosophy, replacing physical boundaries with behavioral boundaries. This way of handling a correctional facility lowers violence, increases correctional officers' ability to negotiate and communicate and increases control of inmates. Normalized living areas and a variety of educational programs make the situation more pleasant for inmates and staff.
Along with increasing courthouse security, Humboldt County SO is rising to the challenges of a changing law enforcement community. "Some of the priorities are physical constraints that are statewide," Downey states. "We try to provide the best level of service to the county and make sure all our deputies are healthy these days. Injuries on the job and those types of things are a priority and we need to be able to meet the demands." Also, as budgets are decreasing in other agencies, especially for municipalities, the sheriff's office is being called in to pick up the slack. ""We are seeing more and more of the burden falling on the sheriff's department to provide services in physical issues throughout the county," Downey says. "More and more of the smaller cities will be taking on the burden." The burden will then be shifted to the sheriff's office. In response to the responsibilities, Humboldt County utilizes a number of volunteer auxiliary services, including an active Sheriff's Citizens on Patrol (SCOP), Air Auxiliary, Sheriff's Posse and Explorers.
Along with breathtaking scenery, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office has a lot to offer law enforcement personnel who want to work for a department with a variety of opportunities and live in an area with clean air and a family-friendly environment. "We are a rather progressive department. We have come a long ways from 20 years ago," Downey says. "The current sheriff is committed to guiding this department into the future. We've tried to uphold a strong ethical standard and values and try to hold everyone to that standard. We have one of the best agencies in the county and in California."