Waltz announces he is running for sheriff By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
Del Norte County Sheriff Randy Waltz, who was appointed by county supervisors to serve out a term left vacant by Sheriff Erik Apperson, plans to pursue his “first foray into public office” by running for sheriff in June. “I let staff know this past week that I plan to run, right before Christmas,” Waltz said. The position of sheriff is put before Del Norte voters every
four years, and Waltz’s current term expires at the end of 2022. Apperson hired Waltz as undersheriff in June 2020, and according to Waltz his goal was to stay for three to five years, then retire. But then Apperson released a statement in October of his intent to move to an area that could meet his family’s medical needs, as well as to pursue a possible career change. “That changed things immensely,” Waltz said. “You know what they say, ‘If you want to
make God laugh, make plans.’” Waltz added that his decision to run for sheriff was made three weeks ago, after considering what he believes are the needs of the agency and after talking with his wife, Shelly. If elected to serve a four-year term, Waltz said he has two goals: To recruit and retain more officers, and increase training and pride amongst those already within the department. “We aren’t able to offer the highest-level salary, that’s always
been a challenge for us,” said Waltz. “Our recruitment efforts will change a bit - we will be recruiting more home-grown people.” Waltz said this will include reaching out to local 18-year-old residents to work in the jail system - positions of which could morph into a transfer to the patrol division and training within the academy at the age of 21. “Beyond that, I want to bring the highest level of training to
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Sheriff Randy Waltz
2021 year in review
Officer involved shooting lead story of 2021 By Diana Bosetti and David Rupkalvis The Triplicate
There was a lot of news in 2021 as Del Norte County struggled with COVID, made good progress on renovating Beachfront Park and celebrated as the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree came from the region. But the top story happened when a 38-year-old man was shot and killed by Del Norte County Sheriff’s deputies after he lunged at a deputy with a knife. The shooting took place in late August after deputies responded to the area of Parkway Drive and Sherwood Lane to a report of a disabled vehicle blocking the road. When deputies arrived, they found 38-year-old Robert Anderson with a large knife. In bodycam video of the incident released by the sheriff’s office, Anderson tells deputies he has a knife and pulls it out. After deputies instructed Anderson to drop the knife, he laid it down next to him, but he refused to step away while talking to deputies. For several minutes, Anderson is seen talking to deputies while refusing to step away from the knife. After talking for several minutes, Anderson turns to someone off screen, asking if they are filming the incident. He then reaches down, grabs the knife and runs toward the nearest deputy. Anderson slashes at the deputy as he passes, and gunshots then ring out. After putting Anderson in handcuffs, deputies attempted to tend to his wounds until an ambulance arrived. He died from the gunshot wounds. More problems, delays at Last Chance Grade Long closures at Last Chance Grade finally came to an end in August, as did the environmental scoping phase that seeks a more permanent solution to the eroding stretch of highway nine miles south of Crescent City. There are currently two possibilities to dealing with the problem: A $1.3 billion, two-mile tunnel that would take travelers inland and would lead to the decommissioning of that stretch of U.S. 101 or rerouting the highway inland 130 feet along and adding retaining walls and water diversion tactics. Caltrans District 1 representative Jaime Matteoli updated local government officials about the project in late November, and stated that by reducing the options to fix Last Chance Grade from seven to two in the environmental review and impact statement phase, the anticipated completion date has been bumped up a year to 2038. If the tunnel is built, it would be about 10,000 feet long and
File photos
In this still frame from a bodycam video, Robert Anderson is seen running toward a sheriff’s deputy with a knife. Below, the stretch of Highway 101 known as Last Chance Grade ran into more problems in 2021 as a slide closed the road and caused months of delays. would be the higher cost alternative, but would also have the least risk and best longevity rate - at least 70 years. “We found that this tunnel alternative is the best way to avoid all the landslides,” stated Matteoli to the Crescent City Council on Nov. 29. The EIR will also study a “No Project Alternative” - which would entail no long-term alternatives and would be a continuation of ongoing maintenance and repairs - though that option is not favored. About $85 million has been spent to repair the highway since 1997. The environmental phase of the project is expected to take at least three more years. Draft documents, permitting and agency coordinations once a preferred alternative is selected and public hearings will continue into 2025. After that, Caltrans hopes to pull final construction permits, purchase the land to complete the project and begin construction by the year 2030. Construction is anticipated to take about eight years to complete. Fire district tax decided by a single vote We’ve all the heard the old saying that every vote counts, but rarely does an election prove it right. Over the summer, the Crescent City Fire Protection District held an election asking voters to raise taxes to fund the district. After two counts, the assessment passed by the narrowest of margins, with 50.01% in favor and Please see Top 10, Page A2