SPEAK UP 2026! Chico Council to Vote on Annual Police Military Equipment Report on 3/3/26; Chico Police Community Engagement Meeting 2/23/26

Please attend to give your input!

The annual Community Engagement Meeting for COMMUNITY REVIEW of the annual Military Equipment Report by Chico PD Chief Aldridge is currently scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026 at 5:00 pm at 441 Main Street, Chico. The Chico City Council meeting to vote on the report will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 6:00 pm, at Chico City Council Chambers, 421 Main Street, Chico. (Please come no later than 6pm to fill out speaker card if you would like to make a comment).

This is an opportunity to discuss Chico Police Department's Military Equipment use, acquisition and funding. This are required by the state’s law, AB 481.

The City Council is the governing body that makes the final decision and will approve or disapprove the user, acquisition and funding with a future vote at a future Chico City Council Meeting.

Signed into law in 2021, California’s AB 481 requires Chico PD to report annually to the public and to the City Council regarding the gear they possess that the State classifies as military, whether stockpiled years ago or newly acquired, or whether acquired from the Dept. of Defense or another entity.   

Why does Chico PD need these weapons? Does the community want our police to spend their budget on the training, maintenance, storage of these weapons rather than on increased training in de-escalation, crisis intervention and implicit bias? These questions and more are posed by CC4J. We urge the community to take the opportunity to speak on this issue at these events.

The public is urged to attend the Community Engagement meeting with Chico Police Chief Aldridge, to speak up on the Chico PD’s Military Equipment Use (Policy 707), and to attend the Chico City Council Meeting both.

It is vitally important that your voice be heard on this topic that affects the well-being of our entire community.

---

https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/chico-police-to-hold-community-engagement-meeting-to-present-annual-report-on-use-of-military/article_a58c6e11-d9dc-4b79-a473-27f6c02e9440.html