Police Administrator told to 'get tougher'
Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken (left) and Humboldt Police Administrator Dean Kruger (right) are receiving contrasting reports on how the Humboldt Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office are meshing and working together. Read about it in this week's Humboldt Independent.
By KENT THOMPSON
Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger has served as the city of Humboldt's police administrator for the past decade. On Monday night, Travis Goedken, Humboldt City Administrator, told Kruger that he needs to take a more aggressive role as the city's police administrator.
“We have issues in the police department,” Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken reported bluntly. “I have members of the police department and sheriff’s deputies calling and emailing me saying that if we don’t get someone over there (at the LEC) we are going to get someone hurt.
“I get emails saying that the two departments are not working together. I get sheriff’s deputies saying, ‘I am not going to help that officer,’” Goedken stated. “I’ve heard that from two different deputies.”
The comment by the city administrator is at odds with what Kruger has been telling both the Supervisors and the City Council. He said just last week that cooperation was better than ever before between the two departments, saying the departments are working together in a number of ways.
“I’m sure glad they brought it up to you, because I don’t hear it,” Kruger remarked.
Council members John Sleiter and Kirk Whittlesey said they have heard the same comments that Goedken is reporting from different sources close to the police department.
After a lengthy discussion about the matter, the Humboldt City Council requested that Goedken and Kruger meet, go over steps needed to get all Humboldt County law enforcement working from the same page.
The Humboldt City Council has been considering hiring its own police chief and could take action on the matter at its budget meetings in early February. Read the Humboldt Independent for full details from the Jan. 20 meeting and future follow-ups.
