Policing Archives - Page 3 of 22

Ex-cop’s domestic violence charges dropped Former Gridley officer convicted of animal cruelty for abusing dachshund

by Dave Waddell
posted Aug. 19

Felony domestic violence charges resulting from disturbing allegations against a former Gridley police officer were dropped because the alleged victim, herself a police officer, refused to testify.

However, the defendant, 31-year-old Devin Pasley, was convicted Aug. 7 of misdemeanor animal cruelty after a three-day trial in Butte County Superior Court. He is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 29. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the judge is expected to put Pasley on probation for three years.

At sentencing, “we will be asking that the current temporary domestic violence restraining order be extended through the three-year probationary period that we expect to be ordered,” Ramsey said. “Such a restraining order will prevent him from possessing firearms.” read more

Back to court: City wants relief from Settlement Agreement Chico leaders reject plaintiffs' proposed revisions

by Leslie Layton
posted Aug. 8

The City of Chico plans to file a court motion next week asking for “relief” from the Warren v. Chico Settlement Agreement, an effort to give City leaders the latitude they seek to enforce anti-camping ordinances, conduct evictions and generally address homelessness.

As negotiations between the City and Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) came to a crashing halt, the City today issued a press release that says “… with regard to the Warren Settlement Agreement itself, the City expects to file a motion to seek judicial relief” next week.

LSNC represents the homeless plaintiffs in the Warren lawsuit that was filed against this City in 2020.

The City released the July 31 LSNC letter that ChicoSol described in its Aug. 7 story here that proposed revisions to the agreement. It also released the City’s rejection of that proposal. read more

ChicoSol wins ‘Community Focus’ award First-place award from CNPA recognizes coverage of gender-identity lawsuit

photo by Leslie Layton

A mom at a 2023 meeting of CUSD’s Board of Education.

posted July 15

ChicoSol has been awarded a first place in the prestigious Community Focus category in the statewide newspaper contest run by California News Publishers Association (CNPA).

The award, announced July 14, recognizes the stories last year by Natalie Hanson and Leslie Layton on the gender identity lawsuit that was filed against Chico Unified School District by a local mom.

ChicoSol competed for the first place with the Bay Area Reporter, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Santa Barbara Independent and the San Francisco Chronicle, all of whom were named as finalists in May. A judge wrote that our coverage of the lawsuit produced a “strong series that shows how a community paper can be fair – and still expose bigotry and transphobia and offer the true facts.” read more

Court orders City to release documents in Tyler Rushing case City's non-compliance with public records laws will cost taxpayers

photo by Leslie Layton

Scott & Paula Rushing after their July 8 hearing at the North Butte County Courthouse.

by Leslie Layton
posted July 9

This story was updated at 2 p.m. today to add comments from both parties’ attorneys.

Shortly after taking under submission a public records dispute, Butte County Superior Court Judge Stephen Benson ruled July 8 that the City of Chico must release a PowerPoint presentation on the 2017 police killing of Tyler Rushing.

The ruling in favor of Tyler’s father, Scott Rushing of Ventura, requires that the City release requested information “without redactions.” Scott Rushing filed his request under the state’s Public Records Act almost 19 months ago on the premise that the PowerPoint appears to have been created for training purposes.

“… the public interest in access to the requested PowerPoint, which we understand summarizes the City’s understanding of how Mr. Rushing’s son passed on and describes policies adopted by the City in response to that tragedy, is overwhelming,” states Rushing attorney Aaron Field in a declaration to the court. read more

ChicoSol a finalist in five award categories Announcement reflects recognition for community focus and investigative reporting

photo by Leslie Layton

Several rows in the Marigold Elementary gym were occupied by protesting parents during a school board discussion on gender identity.

by staff
posted May 29

ChicoSol has been named a finalist in five categories in the prestigious annual journalism competition run by the California News Publishers Association (CNPA) for its 2023 coverage.

CNPA announced today that ChicoSol’s Natalie Hanson and Leslie Layton are finalists in the special Community Focus category across all divisions, placing this publication in competition with the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area Reporter, Santa Barbara Independent, and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Contributors Dave Waddell and Julian Mendoza are finalists in the California Journalism Awards investigative reporting category for the coverage provided by the video report, “The checkered history of police Sgt. Mark Bass.”

Editor Layton and Contributing Editor Hanson are finalists in Housing and Land-Use Reporting. ChicoSol entered stories on affordable housing and on the proposed Valley’s Edge subdivision project in the Housing and Land-Use category. read more

Chico PD holds its first town hall Homelessness, de-escalation and diversity discussed

photo by Leslie Layton

Chief Billy Aldridge at Chico PD’s first town hall.

by Leslie Layton
posted May 2

In the first of two town halls to be held this year, Chico police addressed topics that emerged from the recent Community Survey as concerns, including homelessness and the department’s use of de-escalation techniques.

The May 1 town hall followed the recent release of results from the department’s Community Survey that received 797 responses from Chico-area residents. Most of the respondents were over 50 years old and a disproportionate number white. Almost 60 percent said the unhoused community was a major concern.

The new Police Community Advisory Board and Chief Billy Aldridge sat in a row facing an audience of about 20 people. Both the chief and board Chair Roger Efremsky said the public needs to better understand that officers can only remove pop-up homeless encampments under the parameters set by the Warren v. Chico lawsuit settlement. read more