Chico police chief Michael O'brien retires

After 32 years in law enforcement and 28 years as a member of the Chico Police Department, Chief Michael O'Brien retires

Week ago today- chico police chief michael o'brien - hung up his hat and retired his badge it was in 1992 that he joined the department.

Several days before*hi* last day, i sat down with the chief - and we talked about his career, the challenges & successes and a vision for the future.

<"there never is a good time to leave, but there is a right time to leave& and that right time for me is now, for 28 years, chief michael o'brien has put on the uniform of the chico police department.

Serving in many capacities& he was sworn in as chief in 2015.

"there is something sobering anytime you raise your right hand& swearing an oath to protect others.

It's significant and you don't take it lightly" i asked chief o'brien about the many challenges encountered during his 32 year long law enforcement career.

His retirement comes at a pivotal moment -- when the profession and actions of officersãare being closely scrutinized.

"we don't want people that are unsuited for this profession more than the public does... "its a tough environmentãit's a more challenging environment& and you never want to leave during challenging times, but unfortunately i think that it is going to be the landscape moving forward in this city and this country and it's just not going to get any easier."

Finding an easy career was not his objective when he joined the los angeles county sheriff's office.

Four years later; he joined chico police.

"i think all of us get into it because we want to help&i think you want to make a difference and you want to make a difference for your community."

"for all the things that have made it hard, you still have an opportunity to make a better community by the service you provide" during his tenure, chief, o'brien has lead the department through several major crisisãthe oroville damn spillway, the camp fire; and now a pandemic.

There is continued scrutiny for the 2017 shooting death of desmond phillips.

Social issues of homelessness, street crimes, addiction and crafting community relationships have driven many of the chief's initiatives.

There is one issueãthoughã o'brien could not contain --one he says makes him angry.

"i have been very clear on my displeasure of the needle distribution program.

We want to see people helped.

What we don't want to see in enablement.

Enabling that addiction is never something that should be taken as a policy directive by a community, because you're doing harm to the individuals and you're doing harm to the community."

But, a man of faith, o'brien says he focuses on the successes ã chief o'brien says he now confidently leaves chico police in the hands of his current deputy chief, matt maddenãnamed by the city manger as the interim chief.

"there is nothing that can prepare you for sitting in that seat, where you cannot pass blame to anyone elseãyou have to stand and tell the truth and tell people maybe not what they want to hear, but what they need to hear and that's not always easy."

What next for chief o'brien?

"my desire in some form or fashion is to help people that are going through crisis; helping them navigae through that, that's whay my passion is."

I also asked the chief what he was most proud of?

For practical matters - upgrading radio, records and online systems for officers and the public - and bringing back school resource officers.

But he says the most important has been*peopl* ... and working to build community relationships.

Happening today - bars and wineries have