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Police chief responds to data sharing controversy

Police chief responds to data sharing controversy

Calls from Council to discontinue use of license plate reading cameras
The City Council, with guidance from the City Attorney, will decide the fate of Chico Police Department’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) data sharing program, Chief Billy Aldridge said in a press release today. “Throughout this evaluation process, access will remain restricted until further guidance is given by legal counsel and leadership of the city,” Aldridge said in a press …

ALPR cameras: a “cultural shift”

Reporters Elias Myers and Ryan Sabalow spoke about the Chico Police Department sharing of Automated License Plate Reader data with federal agencies on NorCal Public Media’s North Bay 101 podcast. Myers broke this story for ChicoSol; Sabalow studied journalism at Chico State University and is digital democracy reporter at Cal Matters. In addition to broadcasting North Bay 101 on KRCB, Sonoma County’s NPR station, NorCal shares its podcast with media outlets throughout Northern California. Listen to the interview here.

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August 18, 6:00pm Chico City Council
Location: 421 Main St, Chico, CA 95928, USA
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September 1, 6:00pm Chico City Council
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September 15, 6:00pm Chico City Council
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September 22, 9:00am Butte County Board of Supervisors
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Chico PD granted ICE, Border Patrol, access to its ALPR data

Chico PD granted ICE, Border Patrol, access to its ALPR data

The Chico Police Department says it has shut off license plate reader data sharing that, until July 8, appears to …
Vigil for those recently killed by ICE

Vigil for those recently killed by ICE

This story was updated at 7 a.m. July 15, 2026. About 60 people lined the edge of Children’s Park or …

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Reader Comments

Aug 11
“Thank you for this amazing article Leslie. I’m hoping to connect with this organization!”
Aug 11
“Thank you, Chico Sol and reporter Myers, for bringing the use and misuse of this technology to light. This is not just a Chico issue. See the emerging news nationwide, like the…”
Aug 11
“Members of the community have a legal obligation to know the law and are thus prosecuted based on a their following of said laws. I guess that doesn’t apply to the…”
Aug 06
“Glad you found the “z” and other letters too!”
Marybeth Lorbiecki on Looking for the ‘z’

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