The City Council of Chico decides to allow Chico park rangers to carry ammunition.
The decision passed 6-2, Tuesday. Ann Schwab and Randall Stone opposed each other.
The decision was made to better enable rangers combating rising crime throughout the park, specifically from vagrant populations.
There are three park rangers in Chico that will now be reporting to the Chico Police Department while being expected to maintain their previous tasks as park rangers.
Stone said, “A Police Department revenue grab from the park… The perpetual whipping boy for siphoning money to support a growing Police Department.”
Christian Solis can be reached at [email protected] or @c_alexander20 on Twitter.
Robin Dodson // Sep 7, 2017 at 5:19 pm
I agree with the decision to allow park rangers to be armed.
Two months ago I was standing outside the Chico rod and gun club when I witnessed a bicyclist stop his bike, dismount and attempt to roll a large boulder into the roadway. I thought WTH!
So I approached the young man and asked him exactly what he was trying to do.
His reply “uuh…..I though it would be cool to push it into the road and see if someone hits it. He was obviously high on something and didn’t give a wit that someone actually questioned his actions. Needless to say, I told him to get back on his bike and ride on or I would “kick the sh*t out of him” .
I was told later that this kind of thing happens all too often in Bidwell park. This guy could have easily assaulted me in retaliation and had I been ranger, I would have wanted to be armed for my own protection.