Sheriff Honsal Prepares For Inmates Released To Humboldt With COVID Exposure, Says Calls for Service Down, and More

Humboldt County’s officials, have been answering questions since the stay-at-home orders were instituted on a two question per media outlet basis. The Emergency Operations Center takes the questions, and staff reads them on camera for their response. The resulting video, called a Media Availability, is then provided to news outlets at the end of the day.

Here are some of the main points covered in the July 9th Media Availability session with a summary of answers from Sheriff William Honsal, followed by questions we would have liked to ask in response if appropriate.

Media Question: How have crime numbers been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? Has there been an increase or decrease in call volume?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

So, call volume actually is down this year, as opposed to last year.  We’ve taken the calls for service from March until June and we compared them from 2019 to 2020 stats, and last year we had 23,408 calls for service during that time. And this year we’re at 18,763.  So we do have reduced calls for service. Some interesting notes are that burglary calls are down by 29%, domestic violence calls are about the same, assisting the public is up by 26%.  We’ve had 171 COVID-19 related calls for service. You know one thing that I think that was already pointed out- fireworks this year created a whole lot more calls for service. Those were up 361% over last year and then neighborhood problems, disturbances, those are up by 32% so, even though we’ve seen some decline in calls for service, we do have some experience of higher call volume in certain areas.

1 mins 25 sec in: 

Media Question:  Has social distancing posed a challenge for deputies when responding to calls?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal:

It is. I mean one thing is that we’ve, we’ve really trying to stress community policing over the years. You know getting out of your patrol cars, contacting the public and those kind of things, and so now we’re asking you know, to stay six feet at least, you know social distance apart, and and those kind of thing, but, but they are still doing their job.  They’re out and about and they’re being visible and doing, you know, what we need to do to to get the job accomplished. 

1 mins 50 sec in:   

Media Question:  How have mandatory facial coverings impacted how deputies patrol?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

So, it hasn’t really affected their patrol aspect of things, but you know we do have a mandatory facial covering policy within our agency. And so they’re required to wear a facial covering whenever they enter a building, when we’re out in public, and they can’t social distance they’re supposed to wear a facial covering. But mind you they’re- that’s our policy.  And so, if they cannot wear a facial covering because of- due to the circumstance, the urgent need or whatnot- you know it’s, it’s when practical.  So, there are also times when there’s a communication issue or communication barrier, and so the first thing you have to do in those circumstances is lower your facial covering so someone can read your lips and making sure that you can communicate effectively. You know that’s that’s our day and age now, we got to make sure that we can communicate effectively and a facial covering is, is a barrier in that, we are going to drop our facial coverage to make sure that we can communicate properly.

But for the safety of our deputies, for the safety of the public, we recognize we want to be adherent to that, the local guidelines, that state guidance we are requiring our deputies to wear those facial coverings you know whenever they’re out in public and they can’t social distance. 

3 mins 10 sec in: 

Media Question:  According to the CDC, law enforcement who must make contact with individuals confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 should follow CDC’s Interim Guidance for EMS, but the guidance does not appear to be clear regarding regular LE service calls.  Is LE required to wear masks at all times on the job (if not, why?); and are those who refuse to comply the masking policy being reprimanded?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal:  

Yeah, so that’s that has happened. You know we, you know if there- if we do, you know- there are times when we do have to go and we have to contact someone that’s under quarantine notice or an isolation notice- they either have it or a potential of having you know COVID-19 so- we’re issued N95 masks and goggles and those kind of things for CDC guidelines. And so all of our deputies are issued those but, but as far as the facial coverings like I said before, they’re out there utilizing them. If a deputy is blatantly not using their facial coverings, you know and not adhering to our policy yes then there is a disciplinary process for that just like any of the policies and practices that we have here, that deputies don’t follow, there is a disciplinary process for that.

4 mins 15 sec in:   

Media Question:   During pandemics, law enforcement agencies are responsible for working with government and public health officials to contain spread, serve the local community, and maintain public order. Given the person-to-person spread of COVID-19 through respiratory droplets, LEOs are also at a heightened risk of exposure to themselves due to close contact with the public.  Has the CDC made specific recommendations for law enforcement agencies to protect officers from exposure to the public, or have you revised your HCSO Standard Operating Proceedures to further protect your deputies?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

So, CDC has released guidance for law enforcement officials, and it’s essentially the same guidance that we do with a lot of the things.  We’re talking about making sure you regularly wash your hands, you sanitize those common areas, and that you wear your facial covering, and then when it comes to in contact with the potential COVID-19 you wear your in 95 mask and your goggles. And and you do those preventative measures, and try to mitigate those, those potential exposures, but yeah our deputies are on the frontlines. They’re contacting people every day that, you know, have the potential of having COVID-19, and so it’s, it’s something that’s definitely on their mind, and they’re doing their best to try and balance all of that to make sure that Public Safety is maintained, their safety is maintained, and and they’re trying to adhere to all those guidance.

5 mins 35 sec in: 

Media Question:  Has the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office encountered issues when trying to identify suspects who are wearing facial coverings?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

So that has happened. You know, we had a recent robbery in Trinidad where someone was wearing a mask essentially during that time. Now we’ve identified who that was, but there are people that are wearing masks that are committing crimes, and so it is something that..that we are kind of adapting to right now. 

6 mins in:  

Media Question:As California releases its 2nd wave of 3500 prison inmates in response to COVID-19 outbreaks within prisons –  How many inmates have been transferred to Humboldt County and what can you tell the Humboldt public about what the county has done to find housing for those inmates?  

 What protocols has the probation department put into place to supervise these released inmates?  

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

So right now, the state has recognized that in their state prison system there’s a lot of people that are having COVID. And so their answer to that, is actually releasing people from prison. And I don’t necessarily agree with that. I think it’s a problem. We’re trying to prevent the spread of COVID and I understand their liability, but to have, you know to push that problem back on the county without offering us resources or, or a place, is something that can be problematic. and also you know transporting people that potentially are still can be exposed and not going through a quarantine process- that has already happened. So we have- they, we were recently notified that certain inmates that have 30 days left on their sentences will be released to Humboldt County, and that’s about a dozen people. I initially thought it was gonna go through state parole, but now it looks like and go through our county probation office to be able to monitor those people.  So our county probation and Public Health are working together to try and find you know, some temporary housing for those individuals, so things are being set up for that to happen. And I’m happy that coordination is there but still they should be for essentially our residents, and our homeless, and those kind of things but now the state is pushing off an issue on us in our County. So that’s, that’s troubling. We have our home county jail don’t worry about as well, so….  And then there’s also, we were advised that with inmates that have 180 days or less as a part of a sentence- they also are going to be released to our county,  and those numbers are 20 or so. 
20 or so inmates from the state prison system will be released into Humboldt County, and so that is gonna be problematic. And and trying to figure out whether or not these people are COVID positive, and trying to isolate them you know or quarantine them here in our county and keep track of them to make sure that they’re not out spreading COVID that they got in prison into our community is definitely problematic so Public Health our local probation department and and to the extent even our local parole is trying to help with that with that problem. And our local parole agents you know they’re kind of in the blind about this, too, and they don’t know all the stuff that’s happening and and how these things are going to be processed here so so we’re trying to work together and and trying to you know cuz it’s gonna happen whether we like it or not so we’re doing our best to try and make sure that, that we can provide that avenue to house them, and keep them away from the public as long as we can.

6 mins 5 sec in:  

Media Question:  The California Department of Corrections is only releasing inmates who are within 180 days or less on their release date. That being said, some of those released may have a criminal history that includes violent crimes because their latest offense was nonviolent, however, the State may have them listed as nonviolent offenders if their current offense was nonviolent.  Can you give the Humboldt County public any insight into the criminal background of those they have been released into Humboldt county?  

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

So, essentially I believe that we can essentially, if there was a local crime that occurred here, we can talk about that. That’s a matter of public record, as far as what they’ve been arrested for in the past, and how and what they’ve been convicted of locally here. I don’t think that’s gonna be a problem.  Probation is the lead agency in that area, and, but that is true. That we have, is we have inmates that are being released that are not domestic violence-related, that are not sex registrants, that are not violence in and of itself over the current offense, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not violent in general and from a previous offense. So that’s what they’re classifying, and so that can be problematic, and so there will be, you know and I think probation, if there’s a need to alert the public over an inmate that’s being released, they will do that. 

 10 mins in:

Media Question: Do you feel these releases post any danger to the local community from a public safety or public health standpoint?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

Well, I do. I mean I think public health and public safety- it’s again an unknown. We’re gonna have 30-plus inmates from the California State Penitentiary come here into our County, and they have not been able to control the spread of COVID-19 within the state prison system and so the people that are getting, that they’re not gonna be isolated, and they’re not in isolation right now for 14 days before they’re released, and so they’re just gonna be released into our County. And and so, I think that is problematic, and I don’t think that’s very responsible for the state to do so. And so I think there should be assurances that these people are free and clear of COVID, you know, when they are released. And so they can, you know, start on the rehabilitation process so we can keep track of them, and all those other things that are necessary. 

11 mins in:  

Media Question:  You have often stressed “education” over “enforcement” in upholding the county’s (or the state’s) shelter-in-place order. Name a hypothetical circumstance or two that would prompt you to cross that line — to enforce, rather than educate.

Answer by Sheriff Honsal:

Yeah. You know, our goal here is to obviously…we don’t want to, to pile on criminal offenses especially when you know- our jail -we’re not actually receiving people in jail. This is a misdemeanor offense, okay. And so we recognize the fact that there are businesses out there that are not in compliance with our Public Health Officer’s orders. We’re coming for the process to properly you know, give them a verbal warning, then give them a written warning, and then that next offense will be a citation. And so we don’t want to have to go there, but you know, take the hypothetical of having a restaurant that’s out of compliance- that’s operating out of compliance and not properly certified.  If they go through those processes, and we give them two warnings essentially, and that third time they’re still operating, we’re needing a citation. And, and so again, it’s something that we want to stress- we want people to come together as a community. I think Humboldt County overall, it’s done a very, very good job. You look at our numbers in our county and, and I think we’ve done an excellent job in trying to keep COVID at a minimum level. But it’s gonna take all of us to continue this way. This is going to be a very long drawn-out operation so we want to make sure that you know we do our best to try and keep COVID to the you know minimal levels as we can by doing all these mitigating factors.

13 mins 35 secs:

Media Question:  Relatedly — isn’t everyone pretty much clear on what the rules are by now? Do you find that the people you “educate” are truly unaware of what the governor or the local authorities are mandating? Aren’t most of them deliberately disobeying those orders?

Answer by Sheriff Honsal: 

I think there are people that are frustrated, you know. I mean this thing is, is a very long you know process- four months into this now. And you know, people like to have weddings or you know going back to church or going to their favorite restaurant or now going to see a friend and all these things, getting gatherings together. People are tired and they’re fatigued. And so I think they’re choosing not to adhere to these because of the COVID fatigue that’s in place and, and so I think education, I think we’ve done a pretty good job on educating. Our Joint Information Center has done an excellent job and trying to push information out and try to make sure that they’re fully aware of the local orders and our and our state guidelines but people you know you know are choosing to ignore because they have something bigger but what the overall thing is that COVID is still in the community. You know,  COVID is out there. And whether you like it or not, you know, it is spread by people getting together. So we want to make sure that people are safe as possible, and so we want to make sure that you know we’re doing our best to make sure that you’re looking out for others.  

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

46 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
3 years ago

No more Democrats!

Reebus E Cannibus
Guest
Reebus E Cannibus
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Trumps non control plan has landed us where we are . Killing Americans is something he gets thrills from. If we had a real president we would not be here.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Yup. As the any Democrat would have naturally take charge in the emergency, ignoring the Constitution, and used authority he didn’t have to force local government to conform to the Federal mandate that didn’t exist. Why this purported President could have ordered nursing homes to take in corona virus cases like Governor Cuomo of New York did, who also demanded massive numbers of ventilators that were not needed. Of course, all the State governments run by people who are better than Trump clearly show their success.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109011/coronavirus-covid19-death-rates-us-by-state/

Jim Brickley
Guest
Jim Brickley
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Well, apparently trump just gave up on the whole thing and turned it over to Governors and private industry. Private means profit, so here we are. Nice going!

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Jim Brickley

I’m sure Trump wishes he had the magic wand that liberals blame him for not having. Now that would be really scary…

In reality, there are so few government labs in any country that no country had the capacity to mass test if they didn’t use commercial facilities. Iceland and South Korea certainly were lucky to have public spirited private companies ready and willing to step up with testing . On the other hand the CDC barred private industry from offering any testing until after they totally botched their own test and even then they required that only tests they certified could be used. And the certification process was long in coming. Even now government testing has not been ramped up to be even close to being able to do enough testing.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2020/04/05/how-one-firms-covid-19-tests-help-control-the-virus-in-south-korea/#59f2ccc25bff
https://www.icelandreview.com/society/iceland-to-reorganise-covid-19-border-testing-following-decode-withdrawal/

It’s magical thinking to condemn Trump for his failure to control covid-19 when the CDC failed from start to presumably end, while simultaneously belittling commercial testing because it isn’t a total success. The idea that government is, that if magically reformed to be less incompetent by electing the right thinking politicians, the best choice for everything, is the very reason the US is impossible to govern. Is there any level of evidence, which will convince those who desire to force on others their own version of social utopia, that to do that there must be a ruthless, strong arm, repressive , brutal and intolerant monoculture government like China dragging off any opposition to political oblivion?

Johnny Brainchip
Guest
Johnny Brainchip
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Elections are a sham. Trump wins big. The kompromat is amazing this time of the year. The clinton sex tapes are going to be released. They have been secured for a hefty one trillion dollar price tag.

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Stop with the political division ‘Jeffersonian’ you are doing the community a disservice. If you don’t have anything constructive than keep your opinions to the ballot box (where you will continue to lose)
I think it is a thankless job being in law enforcement These days and contrary to the narrative that we should defund the police, I think we should increase funding so we get the best and brightest, not the inbred tattooed meatheads that roam the streets nowadays. If that means more taxes so be it. Taxes are the price we pay for civilization. And we need more civilization in this country.

Jon "brain chip server" Takedown
Guest
Jon "brain chip server" Takedown
3 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

Law enforcement is the problem. They are the mafia. Redwood watch. Look at the scum bag mafia police in this community. It is being investigated by law enforcement all over the world. The misbehaving law enforcement is a bane to the world. The vice squads will be the next target of the revolution. The vice squad gentrification teams. That is the real enemy of the people.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

A lot of LE are veterans that come home and from war and easily make the transition into another government branch. I don’t think they have the mindset for what we need in today’s times.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Governers orders only last 60 days during an emergency. That includes facial coverings.

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago

🕯🌳That’s bullshit about them wearing a mask when entering a building they came to my place last Sunday and neither one of them was wearing a mask. 👁🖖🚑

Jesus, Chris
Guest
Jesus, Chris
3 years ago

So, when you have to re-arrest all these people who are being thrown out of prisons, will you test them, put them in the jail, treat the sick and heal the lame?

So, it looks like you will have to start earning your $300,000 salary, managing an epidemic, being the sole responsible reactant in the government, and, complainng on a nearly hourly basis of how hard it all is!

Yeah, you might have to conceal the fact that you can’t really do much about anything, besides talk.

So, Humboldt, arm yourself, as Jesse Taylor would say, wear you masks and turn in your neighbors, and, don’t forget to complain!

So, there will be a few more criminals among you, nothing new or different! I’m sure they have all been re-habilitated, for sure…

Yeah, and Billy, where’s your friggin’ mask, fer heck’s sake?

So, you’re setting a poor example! $144/hour and he doesn’t even have a mask on…

Alf
Guest
Alf
3 years ago

Total disgrace to the badge.

Getwiththetimes
Guest
Getwiththetimes
3 years ago

Please enforce the mask order Mr. Sheriff

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
3 years ago

There’s no mask order.

Compliance isn’t mandatory.

We still get to decide, one person at a time.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

And just how are you going to enforce it? They are releasing prisoners already convicted. So you can’t haul them off to jail. Are you going to have the meter maids write tickets with the courts closed? It would probably cost way more than the county has to even try to do it. Not to mention the dubious authority for conducting that sort of enforcement and the impossibility to effectively do that.

Doggo
Guest
Doggo
3 years ago

Four months is not a long time.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Doggo

It is for those who were ordered into solitary confinement. Maybe less so for those who pretty much already were living solitary lives with government provided income that didn’t disappear.

SARS-cov-2
Guest
SARS-cov-2
3 years ago

After reading this it’s clear the ship 🚢 is sinking .

“People are tired and they’re fatigued. And so I think they’re choosing not to adhere to these because of the COVID fatigue”
No people are self centered spoiled baby’s who don’t even understand what true sacrifice for a common cause is.

——————
https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-2020/world-war-ii-rationing.html
Just How Tough Was World War II Rationing? Very

A look back on sacrifices Americans made in support of a common effort

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  SARS-cov-2

I wonder what happened? Oh yes we all got parsed into victims and victimizers and learned shed hate on each other without any manners at all.

Guest2
Guest
Guest2
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Guest makes the most apt comment on this site in months. Kudos.

robert e. jackson
Guest
robert e. jackson
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest2

Yes indeed Guest and Guest 2! Kudos indeed!

Welfare Teet
Guest
Welfare Teet
3 years ago
Reply to  SARS-cov-2

You sound like a self-centered, spoiled baby. True sacrifice? How’s sitting at home getting your free government money going?

all lives matter
Guest
all lives matter
3 years ago

Release criminals?
Do you fucking job Hänsel !
Wtf are we paying taxes for?
This better be a fucking joke!

Kym Kemp
Admin
3 years ago

What would you like him to do…? The State of California is releasing inmates here. He has to make the best of it.

Kurt Russel
Guest
Kurt Russel
3 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Arrest Newsome?

Testing is the important factor.
Guest
Testing is the important factor.
3 years ago
Reply to  Kurt Russel

Dumb. Obviously each inmate should be tested for covid-19 before being released. The ones that are infected should remain in jail for 15 days. Dee-da-dee!!!

Kurt Russel
Guest
Kurt Russel
3 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Out of his jurisdiction I guess, and he won’t b visiting anytime soon

w
Guest
w
3 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You should say the truth its Gavin Newsome thats releasing them.

Mary
Guest
Mary
3 years ago

Thank you and your team for all you’re doing, Sheriff Honsal – it can’t be an easy time to be in your position. I know that you will work together with other county officials, as well as Public Health, to provide a quarantine system to prevent these inmates from being released directly into the community. I have written to every state official I know – Governor Newsom, Mike McGuire, Jared Huffman – even Kamala Harris, Dianne Feinstein, and Joe Biden – and expressed my disfavor that this would be done so flagrantly, without planning or financial support. If you can think of anyone else to whom we might offer our opinion, please let me know! I’ll gladly pass the word. Keep up the good work!

Jack Burton
Guest
Jack Burton
3 years ago
Reply to  Mary

Newsom is behind it

With liberty and justice for all
Guest
With liberty and justice for all
3 years ago

No votes for you here in my family mr honsel , double dipping into the tax trough while robbing the people!!!!
What was the sheriff of Nottinghams name again!!!!!!

Jack Burton
Guest
Jack Burton
3 years ago

Voting for Newsom again obviously

seamus
Guest
seamus
3 years ago

Can we at least get a release of names, photos, addresses, and charges of this army of criminals being loosed in the state?

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
3 years ago
Reply to  seamus

What are you planning to do with the information?

Wouldn’t it be safer and easier to accept if you are kept ignorant?

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago

🕯🌳Its against the law to release personal information about released criminals. 🖖🇺🇸⚖

Jack Burton
Guest
Jack Burton
3 years ago
Reply to  Willie Bray

🌿🍀🙏🏻❤️

Kurt Russel
Guest
Kurt Russel
3 years ago

Everyone should recognize that our Sheriff is an honorable man in an incredibly difficult profession. It could be so much worse with who could potentially hold that office. Sheriff Honsal, at the very least, cares deeply about our community.

Kurt Russel
Guest
Kurt Russel
3 years ago
Reply to  Kurt Russel

We can’t expect everyone to b in lockstep w our dogma…

Kurt Russel
Guest
Kurt Russel
3 years ago
Reply to  Kurt Russel

It’s like Dr Frankovich, why do so many people I know refer to her as an “expert”.
I believe her intentions are good, but she is simply doing what she’s told.
Honsal is not just doing what he’s told, he’s actually attempting to lead and do what he thinks is right.

ikickittoyou
Guest
ikickittoyou
3 years ago

The Sheriff is fear mongering again. What will he do when fear doesn’t work?

Another guest
Guest
Another guest
3 years ago
Reply to  ikickittoyou

I agree kym but our county really doesn’t have much to offer these people being released. Why can’t they be released in their hometowns?

Jack Burton
Guest
Jack Burton
3 years ago
Reply to  ikickittoyou

No violence of course

Ocrimony
Guest
Ocrimony
3 years ago

Where is the board of supervisors? Can’t they tell the state that we aren’t taking these newly released prisoners without a 14 day quarantine and housing?

Kurt Russel
Guest
Kurt Russel
3 years ago
Reply to  Ocrimony

No