The young and the brave joined the ranks of the Fresno Police Department at a ceremony on Friday morning.

They are sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Several of the 20 new officers — 17 recruits and three lateral transfers — were born in raised in the Fresno area. Several served in the Armed Forces.

The Valdez Hall ceremony was the first for Mindy Casto since she became interim police chief last month.

“It was amazing to me … I’ve grown up in the department. Never in a million years (would) I picture myself up there. So I’m just very grateful — humbled,” Casto told GV Wire after the ceremony. ” I never take for granted all the blessings I’ve had in this career, this community has given me. And that was kind of the culmination of it. To see these new officers and professional staff sworn in under my command.”

The department has 870 active officers. It also welcomed dispatchers, park rangers, and other professional staff at the ceremony.

New Officer Wants to Break Barriers

“You don’t see a lot of Punjabi females in law enforcement, and … I wanted to break the barriers.”  — New Fresno Police Officer Mandeep Kaur

Families of the new officers pinned badges to their uniforms before City Clerk Todd Stermer read the Oath of Office.

Mandeep Kaur was the lone female new officer pinned with a badge. Born in India and raised in Fresno, Kaur explained why she chose law enforcement.

“You don’t see a lot of Punjabi females in law enforcement, and … I wanted to break the barriers,”  Kaur said.

Kaur would be only the second Punjabi female in the department, serving alongside Sgt. Parvinder Dhillon.

“I feel like we need to be able to … break the barriers of stereotypes and be able to show that females could do anything,” Kaur said.

Kaur moved to Fresno when she was in middle school, learning English and a new culture. She graduated from Hoover High School, and earned a criminology degree from Fresno State.

She said her family has been supportive.

“We all are lucky. She got her opportunity to serve the community, and it’s been a hard six months. You work hard a lot, every day. Like, it’s been like 12 hours a day,” Kaur’s husband, Sukh Singh said.

“I’m very thankful,” Kaur said.

New officers like Kaur will start orientation and onboarding this week before field training.

Families Hear Dyer’s Words of Wisdom

Mayor Jerry Dyer offered his words of advice. Before leading City Hall, Dyer served 40 years with Fresno Police, 18 as chief.

“The officer wears the badge. It is a family that carries the weight of that badge. And sometimes that weight is extremely heavy, and the burden that is placed upon all of you. So thank you. Sometimes … you don’t know when you kissed your loved one goodbye, whether or not you’re going to return home later that day. So that’s an incredible sacrifice you’re making,” Dyer said.

Kaur’s husband, Singh, said that he accepts the risks.

“It is what it is. She wanted to be a police officer. She wants to serve the community. That’s her dream job. So, I mean, we are OK with whatever she wants to do,” Singh said.

So does Kaur herself.

“It’s hard, but at the same time, (it is) out of my heart to serve the community and to help out others. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. So why not spend (time) helping others?” Kaur said.

Police Chief Search

The department is still searching for a full-time chief since the June 25 resignation of Paco Balderrama. City Manager Georgeanne White told GV Wire the deadline for consultants to work with Fresno ended Friday. The city will review the proposals this week.

Casto said she still has not decided if she wants to become full-time chief.

Deputy Chief Michael Landon would not comment if he would apply. Another deputy chief, department veteran Burke Farrah, said he has no intention of applying.