Council accepts police military‑equipment use report, approves proposed purchases after split vote

Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge presented the department’s annual Military Equipment Use Report and request for new acquisitions under Assembly Bill 481, describing changes in reporting and inspection procedures and a set of proposed equipment purchases.

Aldridge told the council the department switched to calendar‑year reporting to reduce double counting, consolidated complaint reporting to a single email address, and implemented improved inspection and deployment tracking (including a QR‑code based field form). He said the department had procedural inspection violations (testing items at the station) but no policy or deployment violations, and recommended continued use of the department’s AB 481 policy and the proposed acquisitions.

On proposed additions, Aldridge listed items the department seeks for 2025: an additional 40‑millimeter multi‑shot launcher (SWAT currently has one and staff recommend two for coverage), replacement and additional drones (small and large), remote‑controlled reconnaissance vehicles (donated funding routed through the North Valley Foundation), Sprinter‑van style mobile command units (three smaller vehicles rather than a single large pusher chassis), replacement sniper rifles, additional assigned patrol rifles, and a request to seek grant funding for a Boston Dynamics “Spot” quadruped robot if a grant is available (Aldridge said the robot would not be purchased with general funds and that the city would seek grant support).

Aldridge provided budget context: acquisition, maintenance and training costs for the reported equipment and munitions totaled $131,126 in the prior year, against a $39 million police department budget (about 0.3%). He also addressed a small reporting discrepancy in the rifle count (reported 71, actual 72) and explained that “use” is reported only when a weapon is fired; a rifle was fired on one incident in 2024.

Public comment was robust and largely critical of militarized equipment. Speakers asked whether the department uses contractors such as local indoor ranges for training or purchases, questioned the use of less‑lethal munitions and beanbag rounds, requested clear public policies on use of kinetic projectiles and chemical agents for crowd control, and sought public assurances that such weapons would not be used on peaceful protests. Speakers included Margaret Swick, Diane Suzuki, Anne Polifka (Concerned Community for Justice), George Gold and others.

Council debate focused on transparency and balancing officer and public safety. Some councilmembers praised the department’s improved reporting and the value of nonlethal options in critical incidents; others raised concerns about costs, long‑term maintenance and the potential for the equipment to be used against First Amendment assemblies. A substitute motion to approve the purchases with the removal of one incident command vehicle, the patrol rifle purchase and the Boston Dynamics robot (with the robot to be pursued by grant only) failed on a 3–4 vote.

The main motion to accept the annual report, adopt the military equipment use policy and approve the proposed 2025 acquisitions carried 4–3. Roll call recorded yes votes from Councilmember O’Brien, Councilmember Van Overbeck, Vice Mayor Bennett and Mayor Reynolds; no votes were recorded from Councilmembers Goldstein, Hawley and Winslow.

Chief Aldridge said the department will proceed under the adopted policy, continue staff training, maintain the new inspection and reporting measures, and pursue grant funding where appropriate.

Proposed acquisitions and some budget items will be addressed in the departmental budget process and brought forward in budget hearings as required.