The Chico City Council approved the police department budget and use of military weapons earlier in April 2023, weapons that were obtained under the U.S. Department of Defense 1033 program.
Recent California statutes require the police department hold at least one community engagement meeting to discuss the purchase and deployment of these military-style weapons.
During the only “meet the community” on April 27, which was called to review the Chico Police Department’s use of military obtained weapons in Chico, Police Chief Billy Aldridge repeatedly called the use of these weapons a way to de-escalate a given situation.
With a lengthy recitation by the chief, recounting a huge array of military weapons, like unmanned Drones, Armored Rescue Vehicles, a variety of so called Kinetic Energy Launchers, many kinds of rifles (automatic weapons), a Remington 870, a battering ram known as kinetic KBT 3-1000, the chief repeatedly described each of these weapons as a tool to de-escalate a given situation.