DETECTIVES ASSIGNED TO THAT UNIT AND COULD COME BACK AND WORK PATROL.

THAT WAS A VERY POPULAR AND HIGHLY VISIBLE TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY FULLY FLOWERED INTO SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC.

THE POP TEAM WAS TACKLING ISSUES WITH PROBLEM AREAS.

HIGH DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS, TRANSIENT REELED ISSUES, AND SO -- >> THAT'S GONE NOW.

FOR GONE FOR NOW.

>> UNTIL WE CAN GET STAFFING BACK.

WITH POP AND TEAMED UP WITH THE CSET.

HEIGHTENED TO THAT LEVEL PATROL DIDN'T HAVE TO HANDLE IT.

IT WOULD POP WOULD TAKE OVER AND TAKE OVER THERE.

PATROL HAS TAKEN THE BURDEN OF THOSE CALLS AND AS WELL AS C S TECHLT.

CSET IS TAKING A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND PROVIDING PEOPLE SERVICES WHO NEED THEM.

>> WE'VE HAD THEM ON THE SHOW BEFORE.

THEY TOO AMAZING WRURK.

THEY ARE DOING A MORE I DON'T WANT TO EMPATHETIC APPROACH BUT ACTUALLY YEAH.

THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT GETTING PEOPLE INTO PUBLIC AGENCY SFRTIONS AND IN ORDER TO GET PEOPLE INTO SERVICES.

>> THEY HAVE FEWER PEOPLE.

>>.

CSET TEAMTION PHENOMENAL.

AND PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT THEY CAN GIVE TO THESE PEOPLE WHO'RE IN NEED AND WANT THE RECEIVE THEM.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED HELP DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN COMMIT CRIMES AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

>> CSET IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITHIN AMERICA, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT TAKES AN ANGLE TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE THOSE PROBLEMS FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO GET THEM THE PROPER SERVICES THEY NEED AND SO THEY CAN GET THE RIGHT HELP AND MAYBE CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

>> THOSE ARE TWO SPECIALTY DEPARTMENTS.

TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S AFFECTED PATROL OFFICERS.

>> PATROL WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE AND GO TO OTHER AGENCIES IT LEAFS PATROL SHORTHANDED.

A LOT OF THE SHIFTS ARE WORKING AT A MINIMUM STAFFING LEVEL.

THEY'RE RESPONDING TO MORE CALLS.

THERE'S AN EXTRA OFFICER TO BE A SECONDARY OFFICER.

BRINGING PEOPLE IN HAS BEEN TOUGH.

THE ISSUE WITH THAT WHEN SOMEONE APPLIES TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER THEY HAVE TO GO TO AN ACADEMY.

THEN FTO OR FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH IS A MINIMUM OF THREE AND A HALF, FOUR MONTHS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT UPWARDS OF A YEAR BEFORE A SINGLE OFFICER BECOMES A OFFICER.

>> THEY'RE GEARING UP.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

AND IT'S NECESSARY.

TO BE A POLICE OFFICER I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

NOT ONLY FOR POLICE AGENCIES BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO NOW ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEAVING THE EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MY COUSIN USED TO BE AT EUREKA.

AND MOVED TO REDDING.

THAT IS A PAT YOU SHALL THAT A LOT OF FOLKS FOLLOW.

SOME OF THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS ARE LEAVING FOR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

>> WHAT'S DRIVING THAT.

THE AMOUNT OF CALLS WE GO TO A ON DAILY BASIS.

IT'S A BUSY CITY.

EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST HELP WE CAN TO EVERYBODY THAT WANTS IT.

WITH THAT AND WITH THE SHORT STAFFING IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR OFFICERS TO GET BURNED-OUT.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GOING AS MANY CALLS.

I THINK PAY PAYS A LAURNING ROLE IN THAT.

IF THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE AND GET PAID MORE AND NOT BE AS BUSY.

>> DOES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT THE EPD MAY BE READY TO JUMP SHIP.

I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY THINK THAT THE OTHER AND A LOT OF THE AGENCY ACROSS THE COUNTY ARE HAVING STAFFING ISSUES AS WELL.

IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE NECESSARILY SAYING THERE'S A GUY AT EPD LET'S GET HIM.

WHEN AN EPD IS GAINING A SKILLFUL EMPLOYEE A OFFICER, WELL TRAINED.

EXPERIENCE THEY GAIN BY WORKING PATROL IS TREMENDOUS.

AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S THEY'RE NECESSARILY RECRUITING.

I THINK WHEN THEY GET AN APPLICANT FROM OUR DEPARTMENT THEY JUMP ALL OVER IT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC'S EXPECT TATIONS WHEN A POLICE OFFICER SHOULD BE CALLED AND COME OUT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT GIVEN THE LEVEL OF CHALLENGE YOU GUYS ARE FACING.

IN A TRADITIONAL SENSE IF SOMEONE BREAKS INTO YOUR CAR YOU'RE GOING TO CALL THE COPS.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING YOU RESPOND TO RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, AS FAR AS -- IF SOMEONE'S CAR GETS BROKEN INTO AND THEY CALL, WE'RE GOING TO GO.

THOSE ARE THE TRAFFIC COLLISIONS.

WE WILL NOT AT THISES CONTINUE DOING THAT.

HAVING WORKED FOR THE EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND WORKED DURING COVID WHEN PEOPLE WERE GETTING FLALINGED FOR TESTING POSITIVE THIS THEY CALLED AND NEEDED OUR HELP.

WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE WAY WE TOOK IN CALLS AND THE WAY WE RESPONDED TO CALLS.

I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AT EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKE PRIDE IN.

WE'RE AN AGENCY THAT CARES AND DO OUR BEST NO MATTER WHAT.

AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC'S OPINION HAS BEEN WHAT THEY SHOULD CALL THE COPS FOR.

IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING YOU NEED TO HAVE POLICE RESPOND THEN YOU SHOULD CALL.

IF IT'S A MINOR ISSUE AND WE GO OUT AND DETERMINE THAT WE CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT AND GO ON OUR MERRY WAY.

>> TO SAY THAT THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD CALL FOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO SAY BECAUSE IF SOMEONE FEELS THEY'RE IN NEED OF POLICE ASSISTANCE THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

AND HAVE THE BADGE ON OUR CHEST.

>> I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE WRONG INFORMATION OUT THERE.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A HIGHER THRESHOLD WHETHER IT WAS A PROPERTY DAMAGE OR CRASH.

I GUESS THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WITH THE TRAFFIC COLLISIONS IT'S IF IT'S AN NONINJURY CONFIRMED NONINJURY ONE OF OUR CSOs MIGHT RESPOND AND SHARE INFORMATION.

IF THERE'S NO CRIME COMMITTED THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE ANY LAWS.

GENERALLY WE'LL SHOW UP AND HELP EACH PARTY EXCHANGE INFORMATION.

WE CAN STEP IN AND BE THE CALMING FACTOR AND HELP THEM GET EACH OTHER'S INFORMATION SO THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES.

>> RECRUITMENT IS ANOTHER BIG PIECE OF THIS.

YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DRAW MORE TALENT.

HOW DIFFICULT THAT THE JOB HAS GOD YOU TON.

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR.

WOULD YOU ADVISE THIS JOB FOR YOUR TEN-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW.

WELLING, I THINK EPD IS AN AGENCY THAT HAS HIGH STANDARDS, AND WE DO OUR BEST TO TREAT EVERYBODY WITH RESPECT AND THE COURTESY THEY DESERVE.

SOMEONE WANTS TO BE A PLOR AND WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND BE A FIRST RESPONDER.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO CALLS.

MAYBE HELP THE PERSON THAT HAS NEVER CALLED THE POLICE BEFORE AND BUT WE HAVE TO BE THERE FOR THEM.

THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE TO HAVE A COP HAVE HIGH MORALS AND HIGH STANDARDS AND BE A READY TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT AND WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY I ISSUED THE LETTER TO THE CITY OF EUREKA.

THEY'RE THE ONES THEY DESERVE.

THEY DESERVE TO KNOW WHETHER WE'RE AT OUR HIGHEST MORALS OR MORALE AND AT OUR LOWEST.

TRANSPARENCY IS KEY IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF POLICING.

SO THE CITY OF EUREKA THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SUPPORT US WHO CALL US, WHO NEED OUR HELP.

BUT THEY DESERVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT YOUR LETTER IN A LOT OF CRISIS LIKE THIS WOULD BE SOME CONTENTION.

THERE MIGHT BE BACK BITING.

YOU GUYS DON'T YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT CITY HAS DONE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF MONEY MANAGEMENT.

THIS IS GOING ON, PLEASE BE AWARE.

SO I THINK THAT'S TO BE COMMENDED.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO DO WITH THIS INFORMATION.

DESPITE THE STRUGGLES WE MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH AS WITH STAFFING WE'RE STILL GOING TO SHOW UP, AND STILL DO OUR BEST AND BE THE BEST POLICE OFFICERS YOU NEED TO SEE AT ANY TIME OF NEED.

YOU KNOW I'D LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND JUST KNOW THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE WORKING HARD, SO IF THEY SEE A POLICE OFFICER THANK THEM, TELL THEM THEY'RE APPRECIATED.

THAT GOES A LONG WAY.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR THINGS THEY SUPPORT ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND SHOW THEM YOUR CONCERNS.

LET THEM KNOW.

IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THEN IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

WITH THE EPOA WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR AT THE CITY HALL.

WE'VE HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY.

AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE CAN BRING MORE PEOPLE AND BE FULLY STAFFED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE WE CAN.

>> THIS ALL SORT OF ENTAILS.

LONGER HOURS FOR OFFICERS AND MORE STRESS.

CAN YOU TALK WE HAVE 90 SECONDS LEFT HOW THAT STRESS IS IMPACTING THE OFFICERS AND HOW THEY'RE DOING.

>> WELL, I CAN SAY MOST OFFICERS ARE DOING WELL.

WE ARE WORKING A LOT OF OVER FULL-TIME A LOT OF HOURS.

IT DOES BECOME STRESSFUL.

WE GO TO CALLS THAT A NORMAL PERSON MIGHT HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT.

THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH.

BUT WE HAVE OUR ORDER SUPPORT.

THE CITY AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN GREAT ABOUT PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO THEM GET THROUGH THE DAY.

IF THEY NEED TIME OFF THEY'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE TIME OFF.

IT'S DEFINITELY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING FAR MORE THAN YOUR 40 HOURS AND YOU'RE DOING IT CONSISTENTLY PER WEEK IT STARTS TO TAKE A TOLL.

OFFICERS WILL STEP IN AND WORK FOR THAT PERSON SO THEY CAN MAYBE GET SOME REST.

>> THAT'S ALL OF OUR TIME TODAY.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.