Survey of Humboldt Deputies Finds Staffing and Pay Concerns Despite Positive Views of Work

A survey released by the Humboldt Deputy Sheriffs Organization found that participating law enforcement officers and dispatchers generally viewed their work and units positively but reported significant concerns about staffing, employee retention, pay, and training. The anonymous internal survey received 42 responses. It asked members about job satisfaction, workplace effectiveness and what they believed was needed to provide quality service to the community. Of those responding, 81% said they found their work meaningful and 83.3% rated the overall quality of their unit as good. Staffing produced one of the survey's clearest findings. Only 19% described their shift or beat as appropriately staffed. Another 52.4% said their shift or beat needed one or two additional employees, while 28.6% said it needed at least three more. No respondent said a shift or beat was overstaffed. In written responses, participants most commonly identified staffing shortages, retention of experienced deputies and competitive benefits as the leading issues facing the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office now and over the next decade, according to HDSO. Asked what single issue they would fix or improve within the Sheriff's Office, respondents most frequently cited staffing shortages and pay that is competitive with other agencies. Training was another recurring issue. HDSO said requests for additional training were 'nearly universal,' with de-escalation, use-of-force, and interview and interrogation training among the most commonly requested areas. Nearly 74% of respondents said they had the tools and training needed to do their jobs effectively. However, 81% said the level of training they received had affected their performance. The question did not ask whether that effect was positive or negative. Multiple deputies also criticized the Sheriff's Office's cellphone-based body-camera system, according to HDSO. Respondents requested a more robust system that does not rely on cellphones and is capable of continuous recording. The survey also found that 64.3% believed they had appropriate channels for providing feedback about problems and concerns. Nearly 93% said their direct supervisor understood the Sheriff's Office's vision, while 78.6% said they understood the goals of the Sheriff's Office and sheriff. Sixty-nine percent said they understood why supervisors made changes. Asked whether the Sheriff's Office needed more community oversight, 88.1% answered no and 11.9% answered yes. 'In general, HDSO members are satisfied with their work and their teams' effectiveness, but they are frustrated by chronic understaffing, low wages relative to other agencies, and concerned about retaining experienced employees,' the organization stated in releasing the findings. HDSO represents rank-and-file deputies, investigators, dispatchers and probation department employees. The release identified the respondents as law enforcement officers and dispatchers. The materials released by HDSO did not state how many employees were invited to participate, so a response rate could not be calculated. They also did not specify when the responses were collected.