CERES, Calif. -- Two weeks after two officers were gunned down in the city of Ceres, its police chief says gang intelligence has made it clear his entire force is still in danger. And that threat has officers armed with more high-powered assault rifles.

Ceres police officers have always had assault rifles in their backseat, but now, the high-powered weapons are being carried everywhere for protection.

"The gang members have made it very obvious through their graffiti that they intend to kill more officers," said police Chief Art De Werk.

De Werk believes the writing is on the wall, saying gang members have called a truce and are now going after police officers.

Now, patrol officers have direct orders to carry assault rifles to every call. De Werk said he only wishes that Sgt. Howard Stevenson and Officer Sam Ryno had the same protection when they were shot on Jan. 9. Stevenson was killed and Ryno was critically injured in a firefight with 19-year-old Norteno gang member Andres Raya, according to authorities.

"Now when we deploy officers, especially if it is a man with a gun call, you will see officers with semiautomatic and full-automatic weapons," De Werk said.

The chief addressed concerns Tuesday during a forum with community leaders from the Hispanic community.

Community leader Maggie Mejia told the police chief about a chilling call she got from a self-proclaimed gang member.

"He said, 'They are not going to stop us. We are not terrorists. We, the gang members, have called a truce. We are not going to be fighting each other. Our targets are the cops," Mejia said.

De Werk said the intimidation tactics by gang members will not work.

"I'm not going to let my officers walk around without having the ability to protect themselves. If they go down, they can't obviously protect the citizens," De Werk said.