The Chico City Council has approved the police department’s annual request for more military gear, this year totalling up to $1.3 million.
But many residents aren’t happy with the decision.
“The vote was expected,” Margaret Swick told NSPR, “but it’s tragic.”
Swick was one of a dozen residents who spoke out against the purchases at Tuesday’s council meeting. Swick and her peers said investing in more weapons is not what Chico needs.
“Our country, our world, is moving toward increasing the military presence on our streets, in our cities, in our counties, in our state,” Swick said. “and of course, we're seeing it so profoundly on the national level.”
The Chico Police Department will spend the funds on drones, rifles, less-than lethal weapons and — if it gets budgeted — three incident command vehicles.
Police Chief Billy Aldridge told NSPR the equipment is needed to keep the community safe.
“We have a specific reason for why we're requesting everything,” Alrdridge said. “When you call law enforcement, you expect them to come with all the tools to handle the situation you're reporting.”
But Swick said she’d rather see the money spent on improving roads and the downtown area.
“I think that the city council has a chance to put a finger in the dike,” she said.
The council was divided on its decision. The three more progressive members — Bryce Goldstein, Katie Hawley and Addison Winslow – voted against the proposal while the four more conservative councilors — Mayor Kasey Reynolds, Vice Mayor Dale Bennett, Tom van Overbeek and Mike O'Brien — voted for it. That’s exactly how the vote went last year.
In California, law enforcement agencies have been required to get permission from their local governing body to purchase military gear since 2022, following the passage of Assembly Bill 481. The law is meant to increase police transparency.
The city council will decide later this spring on whether it will budget for all the gear on the police department’s wish list.
