Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria
About the Department
The Department of Community Protection (DCP) is the unified public safety and emergency management arm of the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria. Established in 2026 and currently under the leadership of Department Director Tyler D. Felt, the DCP brings together public safety, fire services, and emergency management under a single coordinated structure — built to protect Tribal members, property, and sovereignty.
The DCP is being developed in direct partnership with local, state, and federal agencies to build a response capability that is both community-rooted and regionally credible.
Our Mission
To protect life, property, and Tribal sovereignty through coordinated public safety, emergency management, fire services, and community protection programs delivered with professionalism and accountability.
Operational Divisions
Public Safety
The DCP maintains an active public safety presence across Tribal properties, providing patrol, incident documentation, community engagement, and coordination with Casino Security, Harbor Security, and Tribal Court. A Public Safety Officer is currently on staff, with planned expansion to full-time operations.
Volunteer Fire Services
The DCP is in active development of a Tribal Volunteer Fire Department. A ladder truck has been acquired, and the department is engaged with regional fire service leaders — including the Westhaven Volunteer Fire Department and the Humboldt County Fire Chiefs Association — to establish training pathways, minimum staffing standards, and governance structure. Target operational readiness is aligned with the Spring 2027 Eel River Valley Fire Academy enrollment cycle or Federal Fire Training Opportunities.
The DCP is currently in active discussions with the Cal Fire Humboldt/Del Norte Unit to strengthen local firefighting agreements and formalize a coordinated response framework for Tribal lands.
Office of Emergency Services (OES)
The Trinidad Rancheria OES, recommissioned by Tribal Council in 2018, serves as the emergency planning and coordination backbone of the DCP. The OES manages the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), coordinates regional response efforts, and oversees a portfolio of active preparedness plans including the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP), Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), and Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).
Completed OES mitigation projects include emergency generator installation at Harbor and Tribal Operations facilities, slope stability improvements on Scenic Drive and Cher-Ae Lane, cybersecurity hardening, and communications system upgrades.
Animal Control
A formal Animal Control program has been established under the DCP, with an officer recently selected and onboarding underway. The program emphasizes community education, responsible animal ownership, and compliance support for Tribal households.
Proven Response Record
The Trinidad Rancheria EOC has demonstrated real-world response capability across a range of hazard events:
- Tsunami Threat Response — Successfully coordinated the evacuation of the Trinidad Harbor, protecting lives and assets in response to an active tsunami warning.
- Capsized Vessel Recovery — Responded to a capsized vessel in the Trinidad Harbor, successfully completing recovery operations and preventing a fuel spill into coastal waters.
- Earthquake Response — Activated EOC operations and coordinated Tribal response to seismic events.
- Severe Winter Weather — Managed resource coordination and community support during significant storm events impacting Tribal properties and infrastructure.
These activations reflect an EOC that is not simply a planning exercise — it is an operational system with a demonstrated track record.
Harbor Security
The Trinidad Harbor is a critical Tribal asset and a key component of the regional coastal economy. To strengthen maritime security and emergency response capability, the DCP has procured a Harbor Patrol vessel, currently on order and partially funded through the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP). This asset will enhance the Tribe’s capacity to deter unauthorized access, respond to maritime security threats, and support search and rescue operations in coordination with the United States Coast Guard.
Hazard Environment
Trinidad Rancheria’s rural, geographically isolated, and fragmented Tribal lands face a distinct hazard profile — including Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfire, severe storms, flooding, drought, and landslides. Resource disruptions from these events can last from hours to months. The DCP is designed specifically to address these risks through proactive planning, trained response capacity, and sustained community resilience.
Regional & Federal Partnerships
The DCP operates within a strong network of interagency relationships, including:
- Cal Fire — Humboldt/Del Norte Unit (active coordination, firefighting agreement discussions underway)
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (THSGP grant recipient)
- United States Coast Guard
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response
- Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services
- Humboldt Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) — Tribal Working Group
- Redwood Coast Tsunami Workgroup
- Humboldt County Fire Chiefs Association
These partnerships support mutual aid, resource sharing, grant-funded capability development, and unified response across the North Coast region.
The Department of Community Protection is committed to building a department that earns the trust of the Tribal community and the confidence of our regional and federal partners — one capability at a time.
Department Director: Tyler D. Felt / Email: tfelt@trinidadrancheria.com / Phone: 707 825-2747
