Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff Office:

Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Downey is pleased to announce the appointment of William “Billy” Frederick Honsal III to the position of Undersheriff. The Undersheriff position was vacated earlier this month due to the retirement of Michael T. Thomas, who held the position of Undersheriff for the last 2 ½ years.

Mr. Honsal has been a law Enforcement officer for the past 18 years, serving in a number of assignments most recently as the Lieutenant for Humboldt State University Police Department. Honsal also served as a District Attorney investigator for 6 years as well as an officer with the Eureka Police Department, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety and the Madera Police Department. Mr. Honsal is the son of William Frederick Honsal II, who retired 13 years ago as a Captain for the Eureka Police Department where he served for 30 years.

Mr. Honsal will become the second in command for the Sheriff’s Office with responsibility for all the division and units of the office and will report directly to Sheriff Downey. Mr. Honsal will also act in the capacity of the Sheriff when Sheriff Downey is out of the county.

Mr. Honsal resides in Fortuna with his wife of 18 years Jody and have three sons. The family is very active in the community and has a strong commitment to Humboldt County. There will be a swearing in ceremony for Undersheriff Honsal on Monday November 4 at 9:00 AM in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility briefing room.

(Note: Some members of the LoCO staff are fans of The Wire and thus see a striking resemblance between the new undersheriff and Officer Jimmy McNulty. You be the judge above. “McNulty” on the left, Honsal on the right … or was it the other way around?)