Posted December 10, 2025
In this interview by podcaster Sunny, writer Dave Waddell talks about the stories he’s contributed to ChicoSol during the past year and his fight for public records. Waddell is writing a book about Butte County law enforcement. Sunny’s interview will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 as part of KZFR’s weekly news show. Correction to interview comment: Former Chico Police Chief Michael Dunbaugh wrote the memo referred to in this interview in 2015, not in 2025 as was inadvertently stated.
Outstanding report! I say that officers that engage in this conduct while on-duty must be fired, period! If I did this when I was a custodian in San Francisco’s office buildings, I would have been fired. Unfortunately, there was an exception here. I heard stories that I’m sure were true of night foremen(I worked day and night shifts at a few buildings) who sexually harassed and and raped female janitors and got away with it, and the union did nothing about it. This was during the late 1980’s and ’90’s. This is another story but the union didn’t represent me when I had issues with management(of course nothing to do with having sex with other janitors or rape as that’s not me) back in that time. I was not part of what might be called the CLUB. I heard that the union local improved since then. I am well now.
Note: I lived in Chico for 21-years from 2001-2022.
Walter Ballin
Walter Ballin
I just read about 5 CA State prison guards who have remained employed after sexual assault complaints that dated back 12 years! Sex while on duty must be a zero-tolerance mandate with immediate suspension and internal investigation. These women’s prisons are now facing a wave of lawsuits (279) which will cost taxpayers millions of dollars because the prison administration failed to immediately act. The State Inspector General determined the main problem was the slow and delayed internal affairs process. Chief of Chico Police Bill Aldridge must establish a “Zero Tolerance Mandate” on having sex while on duty! His past restrained punishments of demotion and leave without pay are only setting up the Chico Police Department for lawsuits that will cost Chico taxpayers millions. The Lieutenant Michael Williams incident took over 3 years for him to finally be fired. In that time frame, he had sex while on duty with 5 separate women after his first reprimand. Are there future lawsuits on the way?
I am disgusted that the very police officers who are sworn to protect and serve our community are instead being serviced themselves on the job by women vulnerable to their predation! I am infuriated by the degree to which these rogue officers were actually protected from serious consequences by the “good ole boys” in Butte County and Chico law enforcement!
What plan does Chico PD have in place to prevent a recurrence? Going forward, how will the Police Department prove that their officers are mentally fit for duty?
These recently come to light scandals are an urgent call for us Chicoans to take a good look at our law enforcement standards and practices. Please join Concerned Community for Justice in speaking up during Public Comments at our next Chico City Council meeting…..Dec. 16, at 6 pm .
There is much to be said for CPD leaders O’Brien, Madden, and Aldridge. Here are just a few of the recent highlights that involved the tenure of all three:
-Jonathan Noble, hired and fired in 2025, was charged with domestic violence.
-Michael Williams, hired in 2012 and fired in 2025, was a sexual predator for a decade or more.
-Michael Vincent, fellatio on duty, still on the streets of Chico, Aldridge reduces his discipline.
-Chico City Council buys military style weapons for CPD.
-Michael Oxley, in a mental crisis, gets 27 rounds in a split second with new CPD machine guns.
-Peter Durfee makes a woman filing a complaint about Williams “feel like a whore.”
-Vincent’s fellatio partner makes a written complaint to the State of CA POST, not CPD, why?
-CPD officers Fliehr and Bauer now have multiple kills; many career officers never fire their guns.
-It was 1939 when the last CPD officer was killed on duty. It was March 2025 when CPD killed a civilian. Chico leaders need to know that the many families that have lost loved ones in fatal officer-involved shootings by CPD will not have a joyous holiday.
There’s a lot to be said about CPD, and I hope it is said in time.
Well when Michael lee Ramsey gives these sickos the green light to commit rape,murder with zero accountability like he said in the Video in Desmond Phillips case asking the officer’s are they ok they are all he’s worried about don’t get no planer than that.