The Chico City Council passed a motion to allow the local police department to hire more staff. The Council passed a motion that lifts that hiring freeze and allows for more than 11 positions to be filled. "In order to meet the needs of the community provide that public safety service, we need those positions filled," said Chico Police Chief Matt Madden. "I'm exciting, it'll get us back on the hiring and recruiting front. In several areas of the department, not just the police officers but our communication center, dispatchers." Lifting the hiring freeze also adds positions to other departments like animal control and park rangers.