On Tuesday the Eureka City Council will decide whether to approve new ward boundaries under the city’s True Ward system and whether to move forward with a new transitional housing project spearheaded by Betty Chinn. Included on the city’s consent calendar (items to be passed in one motion without discussion) are a change to the […]
Steve Watson
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Eureka Names Watson Police Chief
The city of Eureka announced this afternoon that it’s looking to drop the “interim” from interim Police Chief Steve Watson’s title. In a press release, the city announced that City Manager Greg Sparks has offered Watson the position and the former captain has accepted. The hire will now go before the Eureka City Council on […]
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Local Law Enforcement Leaders Promise to Protect Immigrants
Every pew in the small white United Methodist Church at the corner of Del Norte and F streets was filled on Monday evening, with people standing in the back aisles and sitting on plastic chairs in the overflow room. Many fanned themselves with programs. Spanish speakers wore headsets provided by the Humboldt Area Foundation, listening […]
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Drunk in Public
In the long, hot month of August, as ash fell from the sky, the sun and moon did a brief astronomical dance and the public’s attention darted from national tragedies like Charlottesville and local dramas like the arson and razing of Eureka’s Blue Heron Motel, law enforcement officers in Humboldt County quietly continued to work […]
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It’s Watson for the Interim
Steve Watson is not the kind of man who lets things go. Walking down Third Street, past the St. Vincent de Paul cafeteria, he initially passes the group of men who are standing with bikes and dogs waiting for the doors to open with a short greeting and nod. Then he pauses. “I smell marijuana,” […]
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Eureka Appoints Watson Interim Police Chief
The city of Eureka announced this afternoon that police Capt. Steve Watson will take over as interim chief upon Andrew Mills’ departure on Friday. Watson, born and raised in Fortuna, returned to Humboldt County in 2005 after serving in the U.S. Army, working as an elementary school teacher and serving as a deputy in Santa […]
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EPD Retracts Plans for Homeless Meal Voucher System
Eureka Police Department Capt. Steve Watson informed the Journal today that his team had scrapped plans for a controversial behavior-based voucher system that would have seen some homeless people have to exchange community service for meals at the St. Vincent de Paul cafeteria. The voucher idea, one of many creative solutions proposed by EPD in […]
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UPDATED: Chief Mills’ Last Day Set for July 21
UPDATE: The Eureka City Council is not currently slated to discuss the process for replacing police Chief Andrew Mills at the July 18 meeting, which comes just three days before his last day on the job. City Clerk Pam Powell said more information on the process may be announced next week and the appointment of […]
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Eureka Police Seek New Leverage Against Homeless on Third Street
A recent pair of break-ins to Betty Chinn’s warehouse on West Second Street has drawn attention to the Eureka Police Department’s efforts to address crime and loitering in the area. On Wednesday, under the direction of the Public Works department, employees of Mercer Fraser erected a fence that effectively cordons off the west side of […]
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Up and Down Old Town with Officer Crnich
Eureka Police officer Cory Crnich’s beat stretches from Eureka’s Fourth Street north to the bay, from East Commercial Street to the library. Being the Old Town officer is a specialty position, one Crnich applied and reapplied for. He took the job in May of 2016, one week after the PalCo Marsh eviction. There’s no pay […]
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Almost 50 Guns Surrendered in Eureka Buy Back
The Eureka Police Department took almost 50 guns off the streets last weekend in a two-day buy back program that gave people a chance to surrender their firearms, no questions asked. Capt. Steve Watson said a total of 48 guns — 26 handguns, 12 shotguns and 10 rifles — were turned in during the event, […]
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UPDATE: Officer Involved Shooting in Eureka
2nd UPDATE: EPD Chief Andrew Mills gave a statement to the press at around 7:40 p.m., saying that the incident originated with a call from the California Highway Patrol at around 4:43 p.m. asking EPD to assist with a suspect with a gun having “footbailed” from a car. EPD officers were in the middle of […]