Weapons

Types of Weapons

California state traffic officers carried a wooden baton, mace and a sidearm. An officer in a patrol car has access to a shotgun. Even if officers may choose their own sidearm in CHiPs all the characters carried a Colt Python while in those years most of the traffic officers had a Smith and Wesson model 42 (aka the Highway Patrolman).

Use of Weapons

Although there are a number of instances when the bad guy has a gun, the episodes "Rainy Day", "Peaks and Valleys", and "Karate" are the only episodes where a CHP officer pulls his weapon. In each of these three times, it's always Baricza.

During the opening theme, Ponch's weapon can be seen in its holster.

In the second version of the Season 6 opening, Bruce is seen target shooting.