In 2018, the City of Arcata retained the services of the National Police Foundation (NPF) to analyze the APD response to the homicide of Josiah Lawson on April 15, 2017, and the subsequent investigation. The City of Arcata’s administration believed an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the emergency response and the initial investigation of this event would provide lessons learned from the experience and necessary recommendations to improve the APD’s future responses.