by George Gold
guest commentary posted April 1
In 1987, there was a bank robbery in North Hollywood, California. I remember it because I used to live in North Hollywood. I remember it because the bank robbers were heavily armed, were dressed in body armor, and the police on the scene were, as they say, out gunned. As the shootout went on for some time, some of the cops on scene actually went to nearby gun stores to obtain some more powerful weapons.
This event has been used by police departments across the country to arm themselves with ever more powerful weapons. This bank robbery was tragic and horrible. But there has never been another event like that since 1987; certainly never in Chico. And yet police departments have continued to arm themselves, and then we, as law abiding people, are treated as if we are aligned with the bank robbers of North Hollywood.
Chico is not in a war zone. We do not want to live in a world where it’s us against them. In 99% of all police interactions with the public, it is not and should not be us against them. In 99% of all interactions, no matter how confrontational, we the public and the cops have to learn how to de-escalate all sorts of conflicts. The police are the professionals. If we don’t know how to de-escalate an interaction, the police should show us the way.
The City of Chico tells us that all our police officers have taken de-escalation training. But I’m more concerned that after class, Chico’s police history is that too often the police have not been able to apply their classroom training in the field.
Is this an easy ask? No it’s not. But that’s why we pay our police more than the average person’s salary, and we want them to show us how to de-escalate confrontations.
Spending our precious tax dollars to buy more and more military grade weapons is not the path to peace, prosperity and happiness.
We care about our community, let’s work together. Let us help our police. We’re asking the police to let us in, rather than keep us out with secrecy and a lack of transparency.
Ed. note: The City of Chico is in the process of adopting a Military Equipment Use Policy. Members of the group Concerned Citizens for Justice plan to speak on the matter at the April 5 City Council meeting.
Beautifully said, George! For me, the essential question coming from this writing is, will Chico police learn to choose de-escalation as the first response on the ground, on the streets of Chico? With all this military equipment, the boys are going to want to play with their new toys which I fear will mean more violence instead of de-escalation in our town.
You are mistaken on your point The 2nd amendment was created so that we the people have access to as well as have the right to own as you say military firearms and you mention the police are the professinals well and excuse my mispellings and grammer but here is the deal 2nd amendment government and police are one in the same and if We THE PEOPLE under the 2nd amendment can build carry and own the military style firearms as you state in this article then the police in doing there job that we employe them to do They need and have to respond and be ready for any said encounters of stray or crazy indavidules that may try to use these weapons. In laymans terms you dont want to show up to a nuculer war with a pocket knife so in order to get what you want here you would have to satrt with infringing on Our born rights and take away our my your freedoms so that when the police arrive they are not confronted with machine guns while carrying a sling shot I know my story writing skills are not great but rest assure you will not infringe on my rights so that you can feel good that our law enforcement doesnt have (military firearms ) So yes they do need them and should have more access as so should you Thanks and its great to be an American
The possession of military weapons by Chico PD may plant the seed of anticipation in the sworn “peace officers” to use them. CPD is changing their Lexipol Military Weapons Policy to one that includes approved purchase and use of a dizzying array of combat weaponry…weaponry that is or will be in possession of its “peace officers.” I say the officers have ample lethal weapons available for their use and it is an unnecessary danger to civilians and a burdensome expense for taxpayers to acquire more lethal weapons from the military. The new update policy required public comment and engagement but did that occur? The policy, 709.9, allows the CPD, WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, to order additional “necessary equipment. ” Now that your police chief is the city manager are Chicoans okay with letting your “higher-ups” militarize rather than humanize your “peace officers?”
I agree with Emily Alma and Scott Rushing about our “police officers” getting more military style weapons. It’s frightening to me that the “peace officers” will be carrying these war weapons around in their police cars. And George Gold is right – our town is not a war zone. My fear is that the cops will eventually use these awful weapons on the homeless or even the Plaza fence protesters. It seems to me it’s the “peace officers” who tend to escalate. They shoot first and don’t even ask questions later. I’ll bet the Chico City Council (exception: Alex Brown) will think getting these war weapons for our “peace officers” will just be peachy-keen. Thank you ChicoSol for publishing these two important articles.
Thank you for George Gold’s article on Chico’s “peace officer” police department’s plan to obtain military weapons for use in our town. Doesn’t this effort by the City of Chico via the police chief fly in the face of the de-escalation training touted by the City and the police? Take a look at our international situation: we are in a nuclear arms race with several nations; in spite of negotiations ongoing in war zones, the status of military domination continues to be the foremost power point.
Obtaining peace by being the biggest growler and worse, the most lethal, is simply wrong. It is an illusion. And, of course, impossible .
Thank you George Gold and Cathy Webster. You are spot on. Lip service about “de-escalation” – it’s always wise to watch what people/institutions DO as opposed to their self serving rhetoric.
Silona