Friday, 3 July 2026, 11:35
Willows, a small city in Northern California's Glenn County, has declared a public safety emergency after its law enforcement services agreement with the Glenn County Sheriff's Office expired amid a funding dispute. The emergency declaration, approved by the City Council on June 29, aims to ensure continuity of police services and allow the city to request state aid while a long-term solution is sought.
Willows, the Glenn County seat with roughly 6,000 residents, disbanded its police department in 2017 and has since contracted with the Glenn County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement. The current contract, valued at $2.3 million per year, was set to expire at midnight on June 30. The sheriff's office had earlier stated it would not renew the agreement, citing a cost dispute: the sheriff reported that providing services actually costs $3.4 million annually, resulting in a nearly $1 million loss for the county.
On June 9, the City of Willows filed a civil lawsuit in Glenn Superior Court, asking the court to order the sheriff's office to continue providing law enforcement services while the two parties negotiate a new contract. The city's emergency declaration, passed unanimously on June 29, allows officials to marshal resources and seek help from the California Highway Patrol and state government. Mayor Evan Hutson called the situation “unprecedented” and expressed disappointment, but affirmed the city's goal of re-establishing its own police department.
Glenn County Sheriff Justin Gibbs released a statement on June 25, saying his office will comply with its constitutional and statutory obligations, but declined to comment further due to pending litigation. The sheriff's office has launched an online reporting portal for non-emergency reports, crime statistics, and other services for Glenn County residents, and is developing a separate portal for Willows residents.
Willows, located about 85 miles north of Sacramento, is a small agricultural community in Glenn County. The dispute highlights challenges faced by rural California cities that rely on county sheriff contracts after disbanding local police forces. The city's population of about 6,300 represents more than one-fifth of Glenn County's nearly 29,000 residents.
A court hearing on the city's request for an injunction is scheduled for July 8. Meanwhile, mediation between the city and county continues, though no future sessions have been scheduled. City officials urge residents to continue calling 911 for emergencies. Vice Mayor Richard Thomas said, “My hope is that this emergency is over very quickly.”
