The Office of Independent Review group completed its independent review of the University Police Department and allegations against then Chief of Police Donn Peterson and Lt. Melissa Hansen and found “there were broader problems within the department that need to be addressed,” including communication and leadership at all levels, internal division, and organizational dysfunction.” Last October, […]
Donn Peterson
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Donn Peterson Retiring as Chief of Police at HSU
Humboldt State University announced today that police chief Donn Peterson is retiring from his position as Chief of Police at Humboldt State University. In a press release, the university states that Peterson’s last day is today, May 31, 2020. The press release goes on to say, “Peterson has participated and created several programs that have […]
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‘Jolting and Surprising’
Humboldt State University Chief of Police Donn Peterson was with Vice President of Administration and Finance Douglas Dawes on Sept. 30 when he first learned of his officer’s no-confidence vote in his leadership through a press release from their union. Speaking to the Journal, Peterson said he was so shocked at the news that he […]
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UPD Chief Responds to No-Confidence Vote
Humboldt State University Chief of Police Donn Peterson was with university Vice President of Administration and Finance Douglas Dawes when he first learned of the no-confidence vote from his officers through a press release from their union Monday. Speaking to the Journal, Peterson said he was so shocked at the news that he asked Dawes […]
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Fortuna Man Arrested After Threatening Church Group, Referencing Mass Killings
An 18-year-old Fortuna man was arrested this morning after allegedly making criminal threats against a church group that planned to visit Humboldt State University, with the threats making reference to a pair of mass shootings. University Police Chief Donn Peterson told the Journal that Sean Allman made the threats via text messages to church members, […]
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Amid Controversy Over New Policy, KHSU Volunteer Tried to Thwart Studio Move
Humboldt State University is on alert after a KHSU volunteer apparently tried unsuccessfully to convince the station’s engineer to sabotage its looming move to a new studio location on campus in order to “stick it to” the station’s general manager and a university vice president. In an email sent shortly after 9 p.m. on Sept. […]
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Where is HSU? Questions Go Unanswered at Community Dialogue on Race
Community members are urging the city of Arcata and Humboldt State University for honesty and transparency. Of the nearly 50 people who attended Thursday’s Community Dialogue on Race at Arcata’s D Street Neighborhood Center, there was no one there to represent HSU’s administration. The dialogue began with about half as many attending as did last […]
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Police Chief on Shooting: Suspect Was Wanted, Officer Lucky to be Alive
Twenty-six-year-old Ervin Eugene Sweat Jr. was wanted on a pair of warrants and facing imminent arrest when he stepped out of a Ford truck and opened fire on police officers, initiating the gunfire exchange that killed him, Arcata Police Chief Tom Chapman said at a press conference this afternoon. According to Chapman, Sweat fired at […]
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TL;DR: Why You Need to Join the Conversation in This Week’s Cover Story
Busy week? We get it. So in the event that you haven’t been able to find the time to sit down and dive into last week’s cover package, here’s a brief primer to get you caught up and, hopefully, convince you to take a look at the full story. When Humboldt State University students left […]
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Starting the Conversation: HSU forum focuses on race, police
Against the national backdrop of a recent spate of high profile shootings of unarmed black people by law enforcement, students, police and community members gathered on the Humboldt State University campus Thursday evening for a far-reaching conversation on race and policing. Local law enforcement and members of the HSU black community sat side by side […]