Dale Allen Cooper passed away at his home in Fortuna on February 14, 2021. He was 97. Dale was born in Morton, Washington on April 9, 1923 to Herbert and Cecil Cooper. He joined the US Navy in 1940 at the age of 17 and served until the end of the war. He was stationed in Brazil and Cuba, later assigned to duty aboard an LST, where he served in the Pacific, earning the rank of bosun’s mate.

After the war Dale returned to Morton, where he married Della Williams. In 1947 Dale and Della moved to Fortuna with their first daughter. Together they had four children: Kay, Jerry, Jean and Tom. Eventually Dale and Della divorced, and in 1965 he married Elynor Lowrey. They were married for almost 50 years until Elynor’s death in 2015.

Dale first found work in Humboldt County as owner-operator of a truck hauling railroad ties. He later worked as a timber faller until 1964, when he became a commercial fisherman and the proud captain of the Daydream. After Dale retired from fishing, he and Elynor bought the Angelina Inn in Fernbridge, which they ran for seven years.

Dale enjoyed many hobbies in his later years, including beekeeping and woodworking. His generosity kept the family and neighborhood well supplied with honey, cutting boards, cedar chests and jewelry boxes.

Dale is survived by four children, one stepdaughter and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He will be much missed by all who knew and loved him.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Dale Cooper’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Protesters at the courthouse Friday evening

Two days after the Sacramento Bee published its investigation on the offensive group text messages shared between one squad of Eureka Police Department officers, a few dozen protesters gathered in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse to signal their disgust with the report and to demand that EPD Chief Steve Watson fire the officers responsible.

Review the protesters’ signage below.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Sac Bee Investigation Details Vile Group Chat Among Members of One EPD Squad
• Officers Named in Sac Bee Article Placed on Administrative Leave; Chief Says Outside, Impartial Investigator Will be Brought In to Examine Hateful Group Texts
• Eureka Police Union: ‘Abhorrent’ Texts in Sac Bee Story ‘Do Not Reflect Character or Integrity’ of Most Officers
• Asm. Wood Reacts to Despicable Group Chat Among Members of a Eureka Police Department Squad
• Why Can’t They be Fired Immediately? EPD Chief Watson Speaks to the State Law That Prevents Local Agencies From Simply Terminating Bad Cops

PREVIOUSLY:

• Sac Bee Investigation Details Vile Group Chat Among Members of One EPD Squad
• Officers Named in Sac Bee Article Placed on Administrative Leave; Chief Says Outside, Impartial Investigator Will be Brought In to Examine Hateful Group Texts
• Eureka Police Union: ‘Abhorrent’ Texts in Sac Bee Story ‘Do Not Reflect Character or Integrity’ of Most Officers
• Asm. Wood Reacts to Despicable Group Chat Among Members of a Eureka Police Department Squad

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In the wake of Monday’s Wednesday’s Sacramento Bee story detailing a series of violent, sexist and demeaning texts among a squad of Eureka Police officers, activists are calling for them to be fired immediately. That’s likely what would happen to most of us if our employers caught us exchanging such offensive messages on company time.

But with police officers in California, it’s not so simple. That’s largely because of a state law passed in 1977 and revised numerous times since then. It’s called the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights. and it functions as a rulebook governing administrative investigations of peace officers in California.

Police unions say the POBR, as it’s called, ensures that officers receive due process before any punitive action can be taken against them. But critics say it goes too far.

“It provides cops in California facing criminal accusations with an extensive list of special loopholes and escape hatches that no other public employee or everyday citizen enjoys,” the nonprofit Justice Team Network argues on its website. 

The law gives officers a right to legal representation and an extensive administrative process before any punishment or demotion. It also affords officers the right to appeal any punitive action to an independent official or tribunal and gives agencies a strict one-year timeline to investigate any alleged wrongdoing. 

“Even when police departments or police commissions conduct investigations and find officers guilty of wrongdoing within the time window, the guilty parties rarely face any consequences, let alone leave the policing profession,” activist Cat Brooks writes in an op-ed published by BuzzFeed News. “More often than not, they engage in a ‘lateral move,’ transferring quietly to a police department and a community that know nothing about their history.”

Eureka police officers have another layer of protection thanks to a memorandum of understanding between the Eureka Police Officers Association and the City of Eureka. This legal contract spells out a very specific grievance procedure that must begin with “an informal oral discussion” with the officer’s immediate supervisor. From there, any proposed disciplinary procedure can be appealed to the police chief, then the city manager and, finally, the city council.

The Outpost reached out to Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson to ask about the disciplinary process along with a few other issues raised by the Bee story. He agreed to respond to some questions via email. Below is a lightly edited transcript of that Q-and-A.

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Lost Coast Outpost: I think the public wants to know why Sgt. [Rodrigo] Reyna-Sanchez and Officer [Mark] Meftah can’t simply be fired once you verify the veracity of the texts in question. Can you explain how the disciplinary/termination process is confined by both the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights and the MOU between the City of Eureka and the Eureka Police Officers’ Association?

Watson: The Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBR) provides each police officer in the state of California with specific rights to ensure a fair and complete investigation prior to the issuance of any discipline. Additionally, the penal code and evidence code prohibit the City from publicly discussing any police officer’s performance or discipline.  Therefore it is the City’s policy and legal requirement not to comment regarding ongoing investigations or identify officers who may be subject to disciplinary investigations.

All officers within the department, like all public employees, also have due process rights regarding their employment position. The City needs to respect the constitutional rights of all its employees, including any individuals who might have been involved in the text messages story first reported by the Sacrament Bee earlier this week.

LoCO: Are you able/willing to identify the other four officers who were in the squad of six referenced in the Bee article? Are they facing any disciplinary action?

Watson: Unfortunately, I am not able to respond to this question. Please see response to first question.

LoCO: Over the last decade-plus there have been many reports online and in the community about Sgt. Reyna-Sanchez’s alleged disdain for and mistreatment of the public, especially the local homeless population. Did you, as his chief, have any indication that he held such attitudes as those revealed in the texts quoted by the Bee?   

Watson: Please see response to first question. Unfortunately, I am not able to respond to this question.

LoCO: Lastly, the Bee quoted a professor and former police officer as having said, “This is the police subculture of that agency unmasked.” He said it reveals a subculture with an “us-versus-them mentality” and “a sexualized environment where policing is violent.” Do you agree with that assessment? If not, how were such attitudes allowed to persist within the department?

Watson: As a part of the third party investigation, I know the city will seek answers to not only what happened, but, just as importantly, to how we best move forward from here. I can tell you personally though, I share in the community’s distress. I know how hard my leadership team and I have worked the last 3-4 years to ensure our officers had all of the training and support we could provide to ensure they were prepared to live up to the high standards our public rightly expects. If there is more we can be doing, we want to do it and, we will do it.

But, right now, like many of your readers, I am wrestling with many questions as well. The reports of this week have shaken our entire community. I know the shock and related feelings of extreme disappointment extend across our department. Still, I believe in the strength and moral character of the vast majority of our officers who serve Eureka, and I know there are many are choosing and striving to do the right things day after day. For now, I am trying to stay focused on them. Yesterday, and again this morning, they put on their uniforms and stepped outside to serve even knowing that because of the alleged actions of others, their motives and intent are likely being questioned. That’s a hard position to be in and this is a difficult situation on many levels.

In her weekly video address to the community, Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman calls the text messages published by the Sacramento Bee earlier this week “wholly unbecoming of any professional or decent human being,” and promises decisive action.

Transcript below:

Good Afternoon. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you about a matter of great importance and one that is weighing heavily on me as I know it is on many of you.

As you likely have heard, earlier this week, the Sacramento Bee published a story that revealed the alleged content of text message exchanges between several Eureka Police Department officers. The communications referenced were wholly unbecoming of any professional, or any decent human being, for that matter.

Public trust is hard to earn, and easy to lose. People are angry, and they should be. I’m angry.

There is no excuse for the demeaning, disrespectful content reported to have been included in those messages. As Mayor, I feel it is critically important that I state clearly and unequivocally that the city does not condone this kind of behavior.

EPD has worked hard the last few years to introduce training on topics like implicit bias, de-escalation techniques, and community policing. They have also worked to develop new and better relationships across the community. That is certainly movement in the right direction, though there is clearly still much work to be done.

As public servants, we owe it to our citizens to deliver real, measurable progress.

I am thankful that Chief Watson has recognized and owned the severity of this issue and that he has taken swift and meaningful action to begin a formal investigation. The city has hired an unbiased third party from outside the area to conduct this effort but to protect the integrity of the investigative process, we will not be releasing the name of the investigator until the final report is complete.

Our community wants answers quickly. I expect that, and you deserve that. Still, we also need the investigation to be thorough, not only to determine the most appropriate action involving each of the officers named, but just as importantly, we must take the time to fully understand the depth of the cultural problems that could allow something like this to occur.

When people talk about not trusting the police, they are often referring to a culture that they believe excuses behavior like that reported by the Sacramento Bee. While everyone is entitled to due process, let me be clear: we will not excuse bad behavior in our city.

Eureka citizens deserve truth, respect, and dignity. That is foundational and non-negotiable.

I remain on high alert, but I do still want to take a moment to thank those on our police force who serve honorably. It is not uncommon to receive letters of recognition from citizens for officers who do meet, and even exceed, the expectations of the public. This is not limited to their roles in enforcing laws, but also for their patience and compassion in the face of difficult circumstances.

These officers who hold themselves to and practice this high ideal also have to face a disappointed and distrustful community. With this in mind, I want to acknowledge how important these public servants are to our community. It is essential that we recognize, cultivate, and thank the officers who do reflect the values that EPD aspires to, while not shying away from addressing the serious issues with those who do not.

I also want to warn those who may believe that these kinds of communications are not a big deal that the world has evolved. They are not only a big deal, but they are actionable.

I understand that Chief Watson will provide more updates as circumstances evolve and legal limitations allow. I join you in waiting anxiously for that information. Thank you for your time.

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Open letter to the county on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page:

An Open Letter to our Community Regarding Youth Sports in Humboldt County:

The California Department of Public Health recently issued updated guidance limiting the number of observers for youth sports to one observer per child. Unfortunately, it seems that co-parenting families were not considered when forming this guidance. Mandating a strict rule of only one observer per child forces children to make a choice between which parent is deemed essential to attend an event and ostracizes co-parenting families. Every parent, including step-parents, has the right to attend and watch an event involving their child, and should be able to choose for themselves whether or not their attendance at their child’s sporting event is necessary.

The Sheriff’s Office is not here to dictate what age-appropriate supervision for youth sports looks like and will not be in attendance at these sporting events to monitor parent supervision of their youth athletes.

Throughout this entire pandemic, the Sheriff’s Office has taken an educational approach to COVID-19 precautions, rather than an enforcement approach. We feel that this approach continues to be successful in our county. I encourage anyone attending youth sporting events to continue maintaining social distancing and practicing COVID-19 safety precautions such as wearing a facial covering and staying home if you are feeling sick.

Sincerely,

Sheriff William F. Honsal

Press release from the Hoopa Valley Tribe:

The Hoopa Valley Tribe is leading an inter-tribal effort to offer the Moderna vaccine to all adult Klamath-Trinity residents. The Yurok Tribe and Karuk Tribe will provide assistance with resources, clinical and logistical support. The three tribes recognize that slowing the pandemic in their ancestral territory means vaccinating all residents, regardless of tribal affiliation, who interact in the river communities regularly. The Hoopa Valley Tribe’s K’ima:w Medical Center currently has enough vaccine supply to distribute widely throughout the inland areas.

“We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with our neighboring tribes to build a layer of protection around our river communities, which in turn, protects our tribal members,” Hoopa Director of Emergency Services Greg Moon, said. “We have 1,100 doses of Moderna vaccine to provide, which can significantly slow the spread and reduce the threat of COVID-19 in our communities. We are prepared to serve all K-T residents who want the vaccine, significantly shortening their wait time, and relieving the counties’ struggle to reach the rural reaches of their service areas.”

This mass vaccine event is open to all community members 18 and older who reside within the inland ancestral lands of the Hoopa, Yurok and Karuk Tribes; the Klamath-Trinity region spanning from Happy Camp to Willow Creek on Highway 96; the Salmon River Community; all residents from Weitchpec to Johnsons on Highway 169; and all residents from Lord Ellis to Burnt Ranch on Highway 299; Tribal affiliation is not required.

“It is our recommendation that everyone eligible gets vaccinated to protect our neighbors, friends, and family. Mass vaccination events like this one are an important step for our communities in the process of moving beyond this crisis.” Said Danci Harris, Lead LVN II for the Karuk Tribe. “We are thankful and excited for the opportunity to partner with the Hoopa Tribe and Yurok Tribe on such an important initiative, and hope collaborative efforts can continue in the future.”

Combining nursing and ground support staff from the three area tribes, and utilizing the Hoopa Wildland Fire Department facility, will help make this event a success along with K’ima:w Medical Center’s demonstrated success with vaccine administration. On March 11 the Hoopa Tribe’s K’ima:w Medical Center vaccinated 180 community members during a small-scale vaccine event. And, since the vaccine became available to the Tribe in December, they have vaccinated more than 40 percent of Hoopa residents aged 18 and over with their first dose of Moderna. Second dose counts are approaching 30 percent as more return for their booster.

“I would like to thank the Hoopa Tribe and Karuk Tribe for the opportunity to contribute to this monumental event. Since the beginning of the crisis, the Tribes have worked together on addressing the many different components of the crisis,” said Assistant Emergency Manager Amos Pole, who also serves as the Deputy Incident Commander on the Yurok Tribe’s COVID-19 Incident Management Team. “With the ongoing vaccinations that are happening in each of our respective territories, we are quickly creating a safety bubble around the Klamath-Trinity community. Mass vaccination is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent the spread of the illness and save lives.”

Recent CDC studies have shown that American Indian/Alaska Natives are among the racial and ethnic minority groups at highest risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Persisting racial inequity and historical trauma have contributed to disparities in health and socioeconomic factors between American Indian and white populations that have adversely affected tribal communities. High case counts within this population might also reflect differences in reliance on shared transportation, limited access to running water, household size, and other factors that might facilitate community transmission.

“The goal is to protect our small rural communities from further spread. We really couldn’t do a vaccine event of this magnitude and all-inclusivity without help from our neighboring tribes,” Betty Kramp, KMC Director of Nursing said. “We’re so excited to get more vaccines into arms!”

WHAT: Mass Vaccine Drive-Thru Clinic
WHEN: Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Hoopa Wildland Fire Department, Highway 96 (across from HHS football field)
QUESTIONS: Hoopa OES Hotline (707) 630-7371

Artwork: Submitted.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Sac Bee Investigation Details Vile Group Chat Among Members of One EPD Squad
• Officers Named in Sac Bee Article Placed on Administrative Leave; Chief Says Outside, Impartial Investigator Will be Brought In to Examine Hateful Group Texts
• Eureka Police Union: ‘Abhorrent’ Texts in Sac Bee Story ‘Do Not Reflect Character or Integrity’ of Most Officers
• Asm. Wood Reacts to Despicable Group Chat Among Members of a Eureka Police Department Squad

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There will be a community rally at the Humboldt County Courthouse this afternoon and evening, after the Sacramento Bee’s expose on a string of vile text messages sent among members of one Eureka Police Department squad last year.

According to this Facebook event page — “Protest Police Brutality and Bigotry of the Eureka Police Department” — the rally is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., though we’ve seen other indications that some people plan to show up as early as three.

The Bee story documented a string of violent, sexist and generally xenophobic text messages sent last year among members of an EPD watch led by longtime officer Sgt. Rodrigo Reyna-Sanchez. Sanchez and another officer — Mark Meftah — have been placed on administrative leave, and Chief Steve Watson has promised an independent investigation into the matter.

In the meantime, both Watson and the Eureka Police Officers’ Association — the union representing the rank and file officers — have denounced the text messages, and the Bee’s story has gone national, with stories in the Washington Post and elsewhere.