University President Rollin Richmond administered the oath of office to Lt. Lynne Soderberg, who has been the department’s second-in-command since March, 2007. She succeeds Chief Thomas W. Dewey, who served in the post for seven years.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, and a resident of Arcata since the age of 12, Soderberg is a 23-year veteran of the Eureka Police Department, where she was named rookie of the year. She served as a field training officer, corporal, detective, sergeant and field training program sergeant, and in other posts.
Soderberg graduated from Humboldt State in 1984 and from the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA, in 2008.
An experienced crisis negotiator and law enforcement advisor to the Humboldt County Crisis Intervention Team, Soderberg has received commendations from such organizations as the Humboldt County Mental Health Board, the Humboldt County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and the District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Program.
Under Dewey’s leadership, the University Police Department has reinforced partnerships with local police and fire departments, bolstered training and instruction and modernized its vehicle fleet and computer/communications technologies.
During his tenure, Dewey served as Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association Secretary, Vice President and President.
As director of HSU’s Parking/Commuter Services/Alternate Transportation unit, Dewey was among the founding leaders of the student-initiated “Jack Pass” universal bus-pass program. He guided selection and installation of 600 new bike racks on campus, coordinated the development of a new parking lot numbering system and led the initiative to replace outdated parking permit technology with state-of-the art, solar-powered dispensers that accept debit and credit cards.
Dewey directed HSU’s emergency management operations and upgraded the Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT). He developed emergency plans for each of the campus satellite properties and designed a multi-mode alert/information system for campus closures and emergency conditions.
Dewey’s 30 years of law enforcement began as a seasonal National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger. He became a reserve officer with the Arcata Police Department in 1981.
Like Soderberg, Dewey is an HSU alum (’83), and served with the Arcata Police Department for many years before joining the campus police force as an officer in 2000.
Humboldt State College formally established a "security department" in 1960. It evolved into the Humboldt State University Police Department in 1973.
The department was previously located in the Wagner House, now KHSU’s business office, and in a converted house, since demolished, at 16th and Bayview streets. The department has been in its current home in the Student Business Services Building since 1991.
The department is staffed and equipped to handle all but the most complex criminal investigations independently. Authorized full-time staffing levels are four dispatchers, a dispatch supervisor, eight officers, four sergeants, one lieutenant and the chief of police.