New UPD Lt. Honored for Efforts

Police supervisor Lynne Soderberg recently joined the ranks of HSU’s University Police Department. But previously, she spent 23 years promoting safety on the streets of Eureka – where she often encountered individuals struggling with mental illness. Soderberg’s concern about the plight of the mentally ill, coupled with her experience as a patrol sergeant, led her to take on the tasks of improving the working relationship between police and county mental health, and also improving the resources available to the mentally ill.

Police supervisor Lynne Soderberg recently joined the ranks of HSU’s University Police Department. But previously, she spent 23 years promoting safety on the streets of Eureka – where she often encountered individuals struggling with mental illness.

Soderberg’s concern about the plight of the mentally ill, coupled with her experience as a patrol sergeant, led her to take on the tasks of improving the working relationship between police and county mental health, and also improving the resources available to the mentally ill.

It was due to these efforts that Soderberg became the first police officer to be formally commended by the Humboldt County Mental Health Board.

She was honored with a special certificate on May 17, during a meeting at the Mental Health Branch of the County Health and Human Services Department. Also honored was Lea Nagy, a private citizen who has worked to improve the accessibility of resources to the families of the mentally ill.

Board Chairman Don London lauded Soderberg for her work to develop strategies for providing appropriate services for seriously mentally ill individuals who had frequent contact with law enforcement personnel on the street. He pointed out that she was also instrumental in the development and implementation of Humboldt County's new “Crisis Intervention Team” (CIT) training for County law enforcement personnel and other service providers.

Humboldt County Mental Health Director Donna Wheeler described Soderberg's work as having “built a bridge” between mental health workers and law enforcement. Marianne Pennekamp, a member of the Mental Health Board, said, "Lynne is truly a community treasure."

UPD Chief Tom Dewey agreed: "Two of the reasons that we hired Lynne was her sensitivity to persons in crisis and her ability to work collaboratively with other agencies. We will continue to support her efforts to deliver specialized training to working cops, and to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and mental health."

Lieutenant Soderberg is a 1984 graduate of Humboldt State University, and she began working as the second-in-command of HSU’s police department this spring.