Humboldt Human Rights Commission Addresses Public Access and Police Transparency
The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission convened on August 7th, 2025, for a hybrid meeting addressing several key issues impacting residents. Commission Chair Dino Novello, along with commissioners Jim, Carol, Byrd, Rick, Peter, Jamie, and Ellen, were in attendance; Larry was excused. The meeting, lasting approximately 58 minutes, focused on improving public participation, reviewing committee reports, and addressing a citizen's complaint about police transparency.
The commission unanimously approved the minutes from their July 3rd meeting. A significant portion of the discussion centered on refining the process for public comment during virtual meetings. Commissioners agreed to implement stricter guidelines for Zoom participants, requiring the use of the raised hand emoji to signal their desire to speak. This change, according to the discussion, aims to streamline the process and ensure equitable participation.
Committee reports from the Citizens Oversight of Police Practices (COPP) board and the Youth Commission were also presented, though details of these reports were not provided in the meeting summary.
Public comment highlighted a crucial concern regarding police transparency. Michael Malloy voiced his frustration with the Eureka Police Department's response to his requests for police reports related to incidents at the Wrangle Hill Marketplace and Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. Malloy expressed feeling dismissed and that his requests were not being taken seriously. He further stated that the police lacked the authority to arrest him at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds due to its gated status. While the commission acknowledged Malloy's concerns, no formal decisions were made as the issue was not on the agenda. Commissioners indicated they would follow up on his concerns.
Looking ahead, the next Humboldt County Human Rights Commission meeting is scheduled for October 2025. The commission will continue its efforts to launch its website and will distribute a recruitment packet to Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) for distribution to high school students. While the specifics of the COPP and Youth Commission reports remain unavailable from this summary, the commission's commitment to addressing public concerns and improving transparency is clear.