By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Dakota City, IA – A major topic of discussion recently in Humboldt County has been the contentious relationship between the Humboldt Police Department and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office that has led to the Police Department beginning the process to relocate to the Humboldt Fire Station from the Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center.
During the public comments session as the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors session on Monday, a proposition was brought forward by Michelle Duffy, a resident of Humboldt, who says after receiving widespread responses from members of the community, she proposes the two departments merge to eradicate ongoing friction.
Duffy cited in the group discussion pay disparity, leadership conflict, cost of two departments, and separation not resolving root causes of issues. Supervisor Bob Rasmussen, who also represents the Board on the Public Safety Commission, voiced his opinion on the matter.
Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors, Bruce Reimers, says he agrees with Duffy’s sentiment.
The discussion of relocation for the City of Humboldt’s police department was looked at on February 2 at their council meeting with an agreement made at that meeting to sit down with two members of the Public Safety Commission, Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger and Humboldt Police Chief Jacob Miller privately to address longstanding problems and tension between the departments.
That meeting between department heads took place on February 18, where the city says all parties had agreed the meeting was productive and appeared to reach a consensus on several issues with clear expectations moving forward. The city of Humboldt says that the work environment at the Humboldt Law Enforcement Center had rapidly deteriorated since that meeting, despite agreeing to shared expectations. The city included a list of 18 grievances against the sheriff’s office as part of their discussion on March 16 that led to the process of relocating their police department to the Humboldt Fire Station.
The city said in their latest council meeting the move would be a temporary solution as the municipality works toward a permanent solution for the home of the Humboldt Police Department.