Billy Aldridge promoted to City of Chico Police Chief

CHICO, Calif. — After being promoted to interim chief in August, Billy Aldridge has been officially named the chief of Chico police and began his tenure on Sunday.

Aldridge, a former staff sergeant in the Air Force, has been with the Chico Police Department since 2005, moving from his native North Carolina.

Aldridge said the opportunity to serve as chief is a humbling experience and he is grateful to take on the challenge of making Chico a safer place to live.

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“For me,” Aldridge said. “It's just very humbling that a country boy from North Carolina is able to reach this level in an organization. And I’ve worked hard at it and I’ve put in a lot of time to show the community, and the organization, that I am willing, ready, and able, to take on this challenge.”

Aldridge emphasized the most pressing issue facing the department is staffing levels, especially in the traffic division and dispatch. “It seems like people don’t want to be police officers anymore,” the new chief opined, highlighting the need to have more staff available to keep the city as safe as possible.

He praised the department, especially with its outreach programs to help the community, such as the city's annual toy drive.

Aldridge was surprised with a poster of congratulations from local children from the Boys and Girls Club of the North Valley in Chico.

The chief will be sworn in by the city council at Tuesday night's 6 p.m. meeting at city hall.

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