Mindy Casto is sworn in as Fresno’s new police chief. ‘I‘m beyond humbled’
The first woman to run the Fresno Police Department was sworn in Friday in front of a cheering crowd.
Chief Mindy Casto, 49, took part in the ceremony with police and dignitaries, as well as her family and friends, in the audience in downtown’s Saroyan Theater.
She said growing up in Caruthers as a “Portuguese kid” playing in the fields, she had not expected to become a cop, much less the police chief.
“I‘m beyond humbled to have been placed in this leadership role in the Fresno community, and I’ll never take this opportunity provided to me to serve as your chief for granted,” she said. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the encouragement and support I received from all of you during this process.”
The 24th chief of police in Fresno, Casto had been the interim chief since June 2024. Standing on stage at the Saroyan Theater, she said she had come “full circle” from being on that same stage as a tap dancer in the ‘80s.
“I was always considered bossy, and I guess that’s finally paid off,” she said with a laugh.
Casto was appointed to the temporary position following the sudden exit of Chief Paco Balderrama, who was embroiled in scandal after an alleged affair he had with a subordinate officer’s wife became public.
Casto started in the police explorer program at age 16 after she was hired by then-Chief Ed Winchester, she said. A ride-along the previous year with an officer, who was also Mayor Jerry Dyer’s sister Diana, inspired her to dive into law enforcement.
She was hired as a cadet in 1996 and then as a sworn officer the next year.
Casto was promoted three times by Dyer during his tenure as police chief and was later named as deputy chief before getting the interim position last summer.
Casto spoke highly of Dyer and his influence on her career, and even read aloud some old notes she had taken down of advice he gave from when she became a sergeant.
Dyer also spoke highly of her.
“It is my hope that you will continue to serve as a police chief in Fresno for many, many years and certainly long after I am gone as the mayor,” Dyer said, “because I consider you to be one of my greatest legacies as the mayor.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM.
