Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer should resign
As The Bee reported in July, Fresno Police have shot 30 people since January 2012, killing 17. Every shooting has been deemed justified by the Fresno Police Department, even though a $1.3 million settlement went to a victim’s family and other lawsuits are pending.
The police shootings of three people within the last week show an old pattern – shoot to kill immediately without considering non-lethal force. The Bee reported that two victims, Casimero Casillas and Freddy Centeno, were not holding guns. Mr. Casillas was killed holding a two-foot (family says plastic) pipe and Mr. Centeno, who is said to be schizophrenic, was holding a hose sprayer.
Chief Jerry Dyer again justifies these shootings by saying suspects are “showing an increased level of aggression.” This statement and others he made imply that Black Lives Matter and other protesters are somehow causing a rise in violence against police.
This is ludicrous and an attack on the right to protest police action. No more excuses from Chief Dyer. The use of non-lethal force must be emphasized in the department, and police officers who shoot to kill must be held accountable.
The Office of Independent Review is currently ineffective in reducing police shootings. Chief Dyer has no commitment to changing the department. He needs to resign immediately.
Bob McCloskey, Squaw Valley
This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 8:03 AM with the headline "Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer should resign."