Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Retirement Approaches for Dyer. This Time, It's Really Goodbye.
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 6 years ago on
September 6, 2018

Share

It’s the speculation that never rests at City Hall.
Somehow, someway, Police Chief Jerry Dyer will remain Fresno’s top cop past his scheduled retirement date of Oct. 16, 2019, insiders say.
That’s the date listed in his contract, and also when Dyer reaches a retirement benefit milestone.

“I know that within the next year someone will be selected. They’ll be my replacement. I will move on and I’ll have a life after Fresno PD.” — Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer
In addition, Dyer announced his retirement in 2011 but never left the job. And these days, big city police chiefs, like other high-profile CEOs, often work well into their sixties.
But the 60-year-old Dyer says, “I would venture to say that (my retirement) will be within the next year.”
(Click on the video above to watch the interview.)

Dyer on Retirement

Here’s a transcript of what Dyer, who has been police chief since Aug. 1, 2001, says about the year ahead.
Question: You’re supposed to retire Oct. 16, 2019. There are some people that say Jerry Dyer will come up with something. He’ll never leave. He’s trying to engineer a consultant gig or something so that he stays chief. Tell us about that date and tell us about plans for the department when you leave. Or should I say if and when you leave?
Dyer: Obviously, the future has weighed heavily on me in terms of when I actually leave this department. This is been my life. I’ve spent two-thirds of my life in the Fresno Police Department. And I’ve spent the last 17 years here as the police chief. And I’m very proud of that time that I’ve spent here. But I will tell you that there has to be an end and I know that. And I know that there’s never a good time to leave. But there is a right time. And I don’t know what that date will be. Much of that is going to depend on who replaces me and how that process works. But I would venture to say that it will be within the next year.
Question: So, there could be a bridge time while the search process goes on?
Dyer: I’ve had discussions with the city manager (Wilma Quan-Schecter)  and the mayor (Lee Brand) about what my plans are and what my availability might be to stick around for a period of time during a transition. I have told them that I would make myself available for a limited period of time. I do not want to be that person who appears to not want to let go, although there will be some separation anxiety. I know that. This is my life. … But I think I’m getting closer and closer to accepting that fact. And I know that within the next year someone will be selected. They’ll be my replacement. I will move on and I’ll have a life after Fresno PD.

Dyer’s Successor

I’m very very proud of where we’re at as an agency. The camaraderie at the staff level has never been better. There is a sweet spirit of cooperation. People are all rowing in the same direction. And I’m optimistic about the future of the organization well beyond me. — Jerry Dyer
Question: You’ve set goals for building up your command staff. Are there things that you could share about that?
Dyer: The question has been asked of me over the years: Have I prepared my successor? And the answer that I have given is, I don’t believe it’s my job to prepare the successor. But it is my job to ensure that I have prepared a team of individuals in this organization at the highest level that no matter who is selected as the next police chief they will be successful and they will hit the ground running —whether (the next chief) is an internal or an external selection.
I believe today I have the absolute best team in place at the deputy chief, captain, and lieutenant level, and all the way through the rank of sergeant. At least I hope that to be the case because I promoted all of those individuals throughout this organization over the last 17 years.
And I’m very very proud of where we’re at as an agency. The camaraderie at the staff level has never been better. There is a sweet spirit of cooperation. People are all rowing in the same direction. And I’m optimistic about the future of the organization well beyond me.
 

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

DON'T MISS

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

DON'T MISS

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

DON'T MISS

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

DON'T MISS

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

UP NEXT

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

UP NEXT

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

UP NEXT

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

UP NEXT

SJV Water Founder Lois Henry Receives Prestigious Reporting Award

UP NEXT

Southern California County Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charge in COVID Funds Scheme

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Local Candidates Make Final Pitches at Fresno Hispanic Foundation Event

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

MAGA Hats OK at Polls, but Electioneering Is Strictly Prohibited

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

10 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

10 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

11 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

11 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

11 hours ago

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

12 hours ago

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

12 hours ago

Guns, Marijuana, Gambling: Fresno’s Smoke Shop Enforcement Issues $5M in Citations

12 hours ago

North Korea’s Long-Range Missile Test Signals Its Improved, Potential Capability to Attack US

15 hours ago

Pennsylvania Challenge of Elon Musk’s $1M-a-Day Voter Sweepstakes Moves to Federal Court

15 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

From the glittery bling of its name, the golden mussel sounds like it could be California’s state bivalve. Alastair Bland CalMatters...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

10 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

10 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

A resident outside an apartment complex that was destroyed by Russian bombardment in Siversk, in Ukraine, Oct. 30, 2024. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)
10 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

10 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

11 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

11 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

11 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Search

Send this to a friend