Chico may have new police chief

Last Friday (March 30), City Manager Dave Burkland announced he was appointing Capt. Kirk Trostle as Chico’s interim police chief effective April 21, the day after Chief Mike Maloney retires. This week, Burkland said Trostle has “indicated to me some interest in the permanent position.”

Burkland said that, while there were some capable applicants during one round of recruitment, none really qualified to be Chico’s chief. At the time, nobody within the department had applied.

Trostle is the former Oroville chief of police. He began his law enforcement career with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in 1988 and in 1994 joined the Butte County District Attorney’s Office. He joined the Oroville Police Department in 2006. DA Mike Ramsey said Trostle is “very approachable and friendly. He is no pushover, but I have kidded him in the past that as a cop he’d just as soon hug someone as shoot them.”

Should Burkland appoint Trostle as the permanent chief, the City Council must give its approval.