Proposed Budget Cuts Could Close Sheriff SubStations

 
The Humboldt county sheriff’s department is set to make some drastic budget cuts that would lay off nineteen deputies, as well as close two substations.
The question is how the cuts will impact public safety… newschannel 3’s Cameron Cramer has more.
“We’re going from 46 deputies available now on the street to work three shifts, and we're going to be down to about 30 deputies working the shifts.” Said George Cavinta, Humboldt Co. Patrol Commander.
Budget woes have hit home for the Humboldt county sheriff’s department as many as nineteen members of the department could lose their jobs, which would force the closure of two substations, mckileyville in the north and Garberville in the south…
“It's a total reduction in services- county wide- due to the layoffs, we just don't have the personnel to maintain those stations.” Said Humboldt County Sheriff Michael Downey.
And it’s not just affecting those employed with the department
“Response times will definitely be affected.” Said Cavinta
With just seventy-three deputies, sergeants and investigators to cover four thousand square miles of Humboldt, the sheriff’s department will use the Eureka department as a headquarters in lieu of the substations.
“We won't have deputies assigned to those positions, we will have a single point shift, deputies will go out of the eureka area and sent to the 4 corners of the county.” Said Cavinta
With drastic cutbacks looming, the department is still trying to put its best foot forward.
“We will still be providing the best service we can based on our limitations.” Said Downey.
But those limitations will be stifling when considering emergency calls from outlying cities.
“Our patrol deputies responding to emergency calls during thegraveyard shifts will most likely be coming from the metropolitan area, we won't be able to have them patrolling the rural areas like Garberville and Hoopa, those calls will be handled from units deployed from the eureka area.” Said Cavinta.