Press release from the Blue Lake Rancheria:

In a change of command ceremony on July 14, 2023, Kevin Miller was sworn in as the new chief of police of the Blue Lake Tribal Police Department. Chief Miller is a welcome addition to the Blue Lake Rancheria’s command staff.

He comes to us after retiring as a Humboldt County Sheriff’s lieutenant with over 25 years of service. He was sworn in by Interim Chief of Police Floyd Stokes, who has been serving during the department’s transition phase and who will remain as the department’s lieutenant.

Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal was present at the ceremony to swear in Chief Miller as a reserve deputy sheriff. The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe’s cross-deputization agreements with both Humboldt County and the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs makes the status of its tribal police officers unique—they now have the authority to enforce federal, state and tribal laws on the Rancheria.

[DISCLOSURE: The Blue Lake Rancheria is a minority owner of the Outpost’s parent company, Lost Coast Communications, Inc.]