Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Faces Critical Staffing Shortage; Proposes Wage and Benefit Increase

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Officers with Humboldt County Sheriff's Department.

[Photo from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department.]

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is facing a critical staffing shortage of sheriff’s deputies and is bolstering efforts to recruit motivated, quality, career-minded deputies to serve our community.

The Sheriff’s Office is currently understaffed by 17 full-time deputies. Due to this shortage, sheriff’s deputies have entered into an emergency 12-hour shift schedule and many deputies have been required to work overtime in an effort to continue providing efficient and responsive services to the residents of Humboldt County.

Various factors have impacted the current staffing situation, including recruitment struggles, retirement and turnover, and a changing outlook on the career of law enforcement.

“We are proud to have many career-deputies who have served their entire profession with our agency,” Sheriff Honsal said. “However, many of those deputies have reached or are nearing retirement. While many of them have chosen to stay on with our department in an extra-help, part-time capacity filling auxiliary roles, we continue to see a large gap growing in our patrol force.”

As the gap in staffing increases with each retirement, it’s compounded by turnover. The Sheriff’s Office continues to see deputies accepting positions at other law enforcement agencies outside of Humboldt County or leaving the profession altogether due to more competitive pay.

Citing a recent move by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors to increase wages and benefits for their sheriff’s deputies by approximately 30 percent, Sheriff Honsal says a similar investment is much needed to help recruit and retain experienced law enforcement officers. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors has been working in conjunction with Sheriff Honsal to explore compensation increases for sheriff’s deputies.

“Mendocino County is making a good decision investing in their most essential front-line employees. Our deputies here in Humboldt County are in line for a similar compensation package,” Sheriff Honsal said. “I’ve been working with our Board of Supervisors on this issue and they have been very supportive of competitive pay for our deputies. We can’t keep losing experienced officers to other agencies, especially with the challenging work that my deputies do.”

While competitive compensation for deputies is needed, it’s just one part of the struggle to recruit and retain staff. Thanks to the overwhelming support of Humboldt County voters, Measure Z passed in 2014 allowing the Sheriff’s Office to open more deputy positions to address a staffing crisis at the time. That sales tax benefiting public safety was renewed in 2018 as Measure O. While the positions are there and open, filling them is another challenge.

With a nationwide shortage of peace officers and applicants, Humboldt County recruiters have a tough job. Background investigators for the Sheriff’s Office report much fewer applicants to our agency than in years past. Those applicants are still required to meet the same standards for hire, despite the small applicant pool. For those that do meet the standards, the hiring process can take up to six months. If the candidate is hired on in the recruit level position, it takes another six months for the recruit to successfully complete the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. The Sheriff’s Office currently has seven deputy recruits participating in the 125th College of the Redwoods Basic Law Enforcement Academy Class, who will be ready to begin Field Training with the department mid-June.

“It would be great if we could fill every open position, as the voters intended by passing Measure Z and Measure O. The only way to do that and have a high-quality department is to be able to recruit quality deputies and retain our most experienced staff,” Honsal said.

The Sheriff’s Office is recruiting for deputies at all levels of experience. Successful deputy recruit applicants are eligible to receive a full scholarship covering Basic Academy costs, in addition to receiving regular wages while attending the Academy. Current peace officers who join the Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff II are eligible to receive a $12,000 hiring bonus.

To learn more about careers with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office visit humboldtsheriff.org.

To speak with a recruiter regarding becoming a sheriff’s deputy, call Lt. Mike Fridley at 707-268-3608 or email [email protected].

To see all open positions with the County of Humboldt visit humboldtgov.org/jobs.

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62 Comments
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tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago

seems like they still have plenty of leo to do convoys.

Festus Haggins
Guest
Festus Haggins
4 years ago

Wait until we meet full staff levels, CONVOY every day!!! All the dope heads will be running for southern Oregon.

Dn F
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Dn F
4 years ago
Reply to  Festus Haggins

In your WILDEST Fantasies… MAYBE!!!!

Janet
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Janet
4 years ago

This is new? They have been short deputies for years… Humboldt County pays terrible, the employees are treated like crap… Why would anyone stay?

hooktender
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hooktender
4 years ago
Reply to  Janet

Look up Transparent California. There are many in the Department that make $150-200k/year.
In fact you have look very hard to find Deputies that make less than $100k. The bulk of the Deputies make $124-150k/year.
that is pretty good money for someone with a High School education, especially in Humboldt County.
Add in the fact that it is possible to retire at age 50(15 years earlier that most people) with exceptional pay and benefits in retirement.

Nat
Guest
Nat
4 years ago
Reply to  hooktender

Haha that’s a joke. They maybe make that much because of all the OT they have been doing. I can guarantee you most do not have a base pay of over $100k a year.

john
Guest
john
4 years ago
Reply to  Nat

I love the logic of ‘fewer employees’ equates to ‘get an automatic raise’.
The govt, cause they aint of the people, always at the money trough, continually setting themselves apart from how the actual economy treats the people.
It’s always the forever unlimited need more budget for them and the little people get whatevers left, nothing, less.
I’d love to have everything I do and purchase be a writeoff. Most americans work for someone and don’t get that financial luxury. Less than 100K but that doesn’t acct for writeoffs or the mandatory overtime, another monetary luxury. Job security/Pension guaranteed/Full Bennies? How much is that worth these days?

Bad news#21
Guest
Bad news#21
4 years ago
Reply to  hooktender

That wage is only earned by a deputy working everyday of overtime they can. And it includes their benefits , such as health insurance, which they pay most of , not money in their pockets!
And the retirement age is no longer 50, but keeps going up.

Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳Can I drive the RV to Potter House for lunch?5📡🇺🇸

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
4 years ago

Wait, what? More, more, and now, more again? When does the budget come up for vote by the Supervisors? Maybe Honsal needs to submit a proposal that lays out essential information such as where these deputies will be stationed, why he needs more deputies, and how other counties that he refers to manage their budgets. We have other vital first responder services that deserve our tax dollars. Honsal has got to show us a plan to fulfill his duties, not just tell us he needs more money and more boots on the ground without explaining who, where, and why he can’t get the job done with what he’s got.

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago

Sheriff Honsal has certainly lost his job. Now get out of the area.

Last summer when you repeatedly sent armored troops out into the population, you ignored the ramifications. We hated the way you treated us and we were extremely vocal about it. At this time, it’ll be more of the same from you. You’ve made a complete mess of what should have been a peaceful transition.

Bye bye Billie.

Jeffersonian
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Jeffersonian
4 years ago

Who would want to be a deputy here when you can be one in oregon or idaho

Swine
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Swine
4 years ago

Yea maybe sell that tank u bought.. And what about meaaure z money.. Dont theybget some of that? Didbthey give themselves raises? Fuckin pigs. Always wantin more

No Joke
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No Joke
4 years ago
Reply to  Swine

I thought Downey bought the tank?

Cmon 2020 elections cmon justice
Guest
Cmon 2020 elections cmon justice
4 years ago

Already stealing 80% of measure o that was sold( A LIE) To the people for road work and fire fighters. This county government is outright Treasonous!!!!
CAN’T WAIT TO VOTE!!!!!!

Government w
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Government w
4 years ago

Measure Z

Jesus, Chris
Guest
Jesus, Chris
4 years ago

This is not a job for a sane person…

Every County North of I-80 pays very low. Mendo is lower, and so is Lake.

North west
Guest
North west
4 years ago
Reply to  Jesus, Chris

I suggest you talk to a deputy and find out. Ole fender head Fred toll me how the pay and retirement was great and he was able to retire at 58

Mike
Guest
Mike
4 years ago

Why is every department of the government always “understaffed and under paid”? It’s almost seems like they aren’t good with money or something?

Festus Haggins
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Festus Haggins
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Great comment Mike!

Willow Creeker
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Willow Creeker
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

It depends what we value as a society. My experience is, if you pay the police well, you get less corruption. Pay the teachers well, you attract the best and the brightest to teach our kids. It cost money to have a decent civilization. Definitely good to keep an eye on spending but if you starve these institutions you get a third world culture.

Mike
Guest
Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

It costs money to live in a decent civilization? True. But if you could look at our history with any form of a open mind, you’d have to acknowledge that our government isn’t capable of doing it. If you give them a million, next year they’ll need two. Then the next year they’ll need 4, all while wasting vitrually all of the money. Across the board. Not just the cops, the schools, state parks, roads, all of it could operate more efficiently on a fraction of the budget. The government is the equivalent of untreated cancer cells, it’s only goal is to grow while feeding of others.

Michael C Willims
Guest
Michael C Willims
4 years ago

See the captain, the sergeant too, where’s LT?

forgetit
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forgetit
4 years ago

No additional do nothing doughnut gobblers for Honsal.

SmallFry
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SmallFry
4 years ago

Orr… maybe they are short handed because officers didn’t sign up to be farm laborers and Marijuana harvesters who like literally ruin peoples lives for Corporations. Sounds like there are easier departments to work for…

T
Guest
T
4 years ago

I’m sure there are plenty of people who want to be LEO’s around here. It’s a catch 22 when people want to serve their community but the choices of places they have to be employed go against their core values as human beings. How dare they have morals and ethics that make them not want to be involved and associated with a backwoods, corrupt entity!

Why is this not a great idea?
Guest
Why is this not a great idea?
4 years ago

Maybe just maybe…………………….Oh hell I know it is so………………….Honsal knows that if everyone below him gets a raise then office chair rider Honsal will get a raise. Probably much higher than deputies who are the ones answering calls and dealing with the criminal element. Why is it the figure head makes the most and does the least? Maybe initiate paying by the arrest. $75 per arrest times five per workday times 270 days a year. That’s $101,250 per year. Kinda like a commission. And you get extra credit if you arrest your girlfriend or wife and a bonus if you arrest a fellow deputy and a double bonus if you arrest Honsal. Seems fair. And Honsal salary can amount to no more than 25% larger of the median deputy’s annual salary. If an officer makes $80,000 Honsal makes $100,000. Not bad money for a guy who doesn’t do much more than ride around in a County owned vehicle. That would be like having a second car, but never buying one or putting fuel in it. Honsal hasn’t made one arrest since he was elected. The more he motivates his deputies to make arrests the greater his salary will be. The boss is performanced based.

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
4 years ago

County sheriffs don’t usually make arrests, that’s what deputies are for. They’re supposed to be desk jockeys.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  No Joke

Gene Cox gave his life in the line of duty. Somehow I believe Honsal would be there for almost anyone in a pinch. Sheriff is a political position, like it or not.

JWD
Guest
JWD
4 years ago
Reply to  No Joke

And he gets top dollar to sit in an office while the deputies are putting their lives on the line. Reminds me of the ARMY. Majors and up to Generals sit on their butts and the Privates and Sargents lose their lives. I still say that’s assbackwards. During the Civil war Generals led their troops into battle. If high ranking officers think they are too good to die alongside the grunts the system is rigged. `

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

These guys look like Reno 911 rejects.

The job doesn’t pay enough to attract quality people.
It’s a fall back position in case all other prospects of real employment fall through.

Government Cheese
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Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

They are nice guys! (N gals). Hope to see you soon in the field

Hill Woman
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Hill Woman
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I happen to know one of those young men and he is one of the most outstanding people I know. I worry about him often being new and placed in the Willow Creek-Hoopa area. Always thinking of you KB

Kay Y
Guest
Kay Y
4 years ago

A ccw and a handgun is a one time investment, and often more effective than a deputy.

Where's my weapon?....You're dead!!
Guest
Where's my weapon?....You're dead!!
4 years ago
Reply to  Kay Y

And the killer becomes the killed.

Just my opinion
Guest
Just my opinion
4 years ago

The job would be a lot easier if the hard core career criminals spent some time in jail around here.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

Amen JMO

Bad news#21
Guest
Bad news#21
4 years ago

That wage is only earned by a deputy working everyday of overtime they can. And it includes their benefits , such as health insurance, which they pay most of , not money in their pockets!

Bad news#21
Guest
Bad news#21
4 years ago

Yes it would if California would stop passing laws and propositions that make it harder to even arrest. Crimes that were felonies are now misdemeanor and infractions.

Leo Sayers
Guest
Leo Sayers
4 years ago

LEO’s staffing levels nationwide are a problem. Mendo does pay higher now . But other north state Counties, including Del Norte, Trinity, Siskyou. Modoc, Alturas, Tehama and Oregon Counties Josephine, Curry Counties pay less. That said, you do have to pay enough to attract candidates. Unfortunately, for a rural, economically depressed County, housing, fuel, groceries, the cost of living is higher in Humboldt. Check out home prices in Medford, Grants Pass, Redding and even parts of the Sacramento area, so much more for your money. Plus those candidates that come from out of the area quickly are turned-off by the obvious homeless problem. In fact, we are getting not only a national reputation for our homeless problem, I hear most tourist would not come back to Humboldt, nor recommend to others to visit Humboldt primarily because of the number of visible homeless folks in Eureka, Arcata and Garberville/Redway. When are we going to address this issue?

Anyway, I for one would like to see a service area map, the number of officers assigned to the area and the shifts. Maybe we can get by with fewer officers. Maybe we don’t need a tank (Bear Cat), snow-cat, a number of side x sides, quads, snow mobiles, drones, a couple skid-steers to run over cannabis plants, really? Not sure.

I did a quick check on Transparent California and found out the following, WOW! By the way, Measure Z also included services for abused children/mentally ill; rural fire protection; road repairs; and other County services.

Concerned Business Owner and Resident
Guest
Concerned Business Owner and Resident
4 years ago
Reply to  Leo Sayers

Couldn’t agree more — stifle business, ignore infrastructure, continue to attract and practically invite junkies and drifter/homeless to settle in…what do you have? A very undesirable area for people to bring their skills, money, talent and culture.

The level of blight is serious and quite evident the smaller the town.

For the life of me, I CAN’T understand the level of total apathy in Humboldt to clean house and create growth.

Almost everyone I grew up with here locally went to college and left the area for good. This created a major brain-drain in the area.

They need to rewind the clock about 35 to 40 years when we were still attracting bright and capable, non-junkies to the area.

The natural beauty and serenity remains, but it requires care and stewardship of land and community or the rot just sets in……

HumCoExpat
Guest
HumCoExpat
4 years ago

I wish I had some words of encouragement for you but I don’t. Your comment is one of the more rational I’ve seen and I’d bet it has gone mostly unnoticed. Humboldt is lost and nothing short of gentrification by Silicon Valley telecommuting expats will turn things around. If you’ve watched the series The Wire you may remember the episodes about “Hamsterdam”. There are some parallels in that series to the evolution of the drug culture in Humboldt. There are also some inherent lessons. Namely, real change must be accompanied by desire and sacrifice. By and large people are not willing to sacrifice their security, comfort, money, etc. to affect change. It’s all self-interest out there my friend. Times have changed and that clock will never be rewound. It took me a long long time to accept that. The Humboldt of our youth, and of my parent’s and grandparent’s youth for that matter, is just an escapist Americana fantasy. I’d venture to guess that the majority of residents in the county greet that notion with contempt.

Emeral
Guest
Emeral
4 years ago

Set your aspirations higher if you believe 150 to 200k a yr is a good living you need to get out of.your house more often…. a snail with half a brain in america can make 150k a month give me a break, expand your goals past shitty pay for shitty departments. A successful real estate owner of apartments can make 200k a month just off rent why work for a shitty police department, seems time would be better spent mimicking the rich and maybe taking a real estate class while your at it. Fuck Hcso, didnt they say that one murder mountain, hcso is a bunch of toothless lions, bark and no bite, fucking chumps humboldt county failure.

Swine
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Swine
4 years ago
Reply to  Emeral

And how much u making while also commenting on here…?

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Swine

Emeral owns New Jack City

john
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john
4 years ago

Lol

Salvador Kime
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Salvador Kime
4 years ago
Reply to  Emeral

[edit]you dont realize what the median wage is up here in dumboldt…if u are making 200k a year here, you are living well off..[edit]

Cowabunga
Guest
Cowabunga
4 years ago

Need to do Live PD Humboldt shows to bring more public awareness of the challenges Humboldt law enforcement faces.

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
4 years ago

No sympathy. HillBilly Honsel has no problem staffing convoys so why should we feel sorry for what’s lacking in the rank and file. If it wasn’t for the quick response of the CHP half of the criminals in the rural areas would never be arrested.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Life is Good

Yeah, but the Sheriff’s gotta run them out of the hills.

local observer
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local observer
4 years ago

did anyone read Glenn’s advisory report of Measure Z on Dec. 8th? in summary next year’s measure Z revenue is 77% pre-allocated to existing HCSO hires and in just 5 years 110% of Measure Z’s revenue will be allocated to existing hires. this is something they said would never happen if measure Z passed and it is already a reality. existing hires don’t include any of these in this article.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
4 years ago
Reply to  local observer

Yep vote out bohn, bass, fennell and wilson

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

Would be a good time to talk to John Ford over at Planning and ask how the looming recession his department has brought on will affect all business’s and government revenue. The whole county is faced with recession, gov’t included. Reap what you sow.

Anonymous 9
Guest
Anonymous 9
4 years ago

If I’m overweight and I’ve been convicted of thievery, embezzlement, and domestic violence would they still hire me?

boo
Guest
boo
4 years ago

mercenaries for legal farms.

Newsom's band of theives
Guest
Newsom's band of theives
4 years ago

No honor among theives !!!!!
And theives we are !!!!

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago

Also, These large overkill convoys are also ripping up our roads! Maybe, instead of off bunch of new officers, we need some road repairs! They obviously have plenty of officers to be able to staff obscenly large convoys..

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  SmallFry

The not so huge convoys go to definitely huge grows.

The 20 cars of the convoy travelling down your road to cut your 3,000 plant garden may have just saved another 3 months of 3-5 daily employee vehicle trips.

It’s all relative.

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

They definitely are not just going to “huge grows” They have also ripped up small grows, while mountain top removal grows continue without consequence..

3-5 Employee trips per grow, per day. That’s a lot. Not realistic. 20 cars at once, that’s a lot of weight! It’s bad for the roads bottom line.. They are road rippers!

Marc
Guest
Marc
4 years ago

Try selling the armored car you drive around in to beat up women and destroy private property and laying off the assholes inside it.

Jenniferwyattburp
Guest
Jenniferwyattburp
1 year ago

Well I will say that if 12 hrs is not wearing them out it’s MAKEING them handsome