Weapons
Types of Weapons
California state traffic officers carried a wooden baton 26 inches long, 1.5 inches in diameter, 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 66 4 inches or 68 6 inches, issued by the department.
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.