Mendocino County Sheriff on Standoff in Coyote Valley: ‘The Outcome was Due to Hard Work, Training, Tools and Trust’

As many of you know, last week we had an incident on the Coyote Valley Indian Reservation where a suspect barricaded himself inside a shed while our SWAT team used verbal negotiations to persuade him to surrender peacefully.

I received messages throughout that day and for several days following from many of our residents, including our partners from the Coyote Valley Tribe and the family of the suspect. We all wanted the same thing, safety for everyone involved and a peaceful resolution to the investigation. Many folks were praying for these deputies, understanding they are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. They were also praying for the suspect, understanding he is also a son and a father.

I found the outpouring of support to be nothing less than humbling. I am thankful to all of those who took the time to let us know they were watching and truly care.

I am extremely grateful to the men and women of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office who are working very hard every day to serve. From the first responding deputies to our tactical dispatchers, hostage negotiators, and behavioral health personnel, we brought a team of professionals at a time we needed to.

I am extremely grateful to the men and women of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office who are working very hard every day to serve. From the first responding deputies to our tactical dispatchers, hostage negotiators and behavioral health personnel, we brought a team of professionals at a time we needed to.

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This incident ended peacefully, but we didn’t get “lucky” in this situation. I don’t put much faith in luck. The outcome was due to hard work, training, tools and trust.

This all starts with the caliber of personnel which currently serve our residents. These folks carry with them a sense of duty which is instilled within them throughout their training. This duty is reinforced daily at briefing. These are the people who will carry us into the future and hopefully to much calmer and more peaceful times.

The tools, training, and hiring of the best personnel are not without cost. However, as we have seen time and time again, the outcome is worth the work and the price. We are facing 2021 problems and our county demands the highest quality in all we do.

In closing I would like to thank everyone who reached out to our office and to me personally during some trying times. On behalf of the brave personnel serving you today I would like to thank you.

Sheriff Matt Kendall