Good question! My observation, having lived in Humboldt in the past, is that it has attracted a large subculture who dislike LE and feel that they are above the law. There seems to be a code of silence that is impenetrable, so investigating crimes is difficult unless someone in the area grows a conscience. Even with a conscience, and even if you are not part of the subculture, it is very dangerous to be on the side of the law. When we lived there, we feared for our safety many times. The local LE, especially the sheriff department is woefully understaffed, especially in Southern Humboldt where lived. When they investigate a disappearance, according to law, they can't force people to talk, and they can't search private property without a warrant showing cause. I don't see a fix for this, sadly, as long as people think it's a fun game to make things hard for LE and be loyal to criminals.