Marking her first full year at the helm of the Fresno Police Department, Chief Mindy Casto is celebrating a historic milestone: the city’s lowest murder rate in over half a century.

But as violent crime plummets, the department is pivoting to address new challenges, including a spike in assaults on officers and an ongoing struggle to retain exhausted recruits.

Fresno recorded just 22 homicides in 2025, representing a 70% drop from 2020. The department also achieved a 100% murder clearance rate for 2025 while solving older homicides as well.

Casto attributes the unprecedented success to a return to post-pandemic accountability, fully reopened courts, and a highly targeted approach to gang violence.

“The biggest drop was in our gang-related murders,” Casto told GV Wire in an interview last week. She credited the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium, federal prosecutions, and community intervention programs like Advance Peace, which places mediators on the streets to de-escalate brewing conflicts, for the reduction.

Additionally, the department shifted its strategy to treat non-fatal shootings with the same urgency as homicides. By deploying detectives immediately to solve shootings where victims survived, police have successfully prevented retaliatory violence that often leads to further murders.

Technology in the Police Force

Technology has also played a crucial role in the crime drop. Despite some public concerns over surveillance, Casto defended the use of ShotSpotter audio detection and automated license plate readers as essential, life-saving tools.

“Several of the shooting cases that we had this year, we didn’t get a police call for service. We wouldn’t have known these victims were out there needing medical care,” Casto said. “Our number one overarching goal is preservation of life, and that’s what that’s all about.”

The department is continuing to modernize, rolling out a new Drone First Responder program this month and expanding its use of DraftOne, an artificial intelligence tool used to generate police reports for lower-level offenses.

Fresno Streets Are Always Busy

While violent crime is down, maintaining the police force remains a hurdle. The department currently has more than 70 officer vacancies.

However, Casto noted that hiring isn’t the issue — retention is. The department currently has 68 cadets in the pipeline but loses about six officers a month. She mentioned that the six officers a month is not just recruits, but veterans retiring as scheduled or taking medical retirements.

Casto said many recruits are simply overwhelmed by Fresno’s relentless, back-to-back call volume. In response, the department is heavily focused on building a supportive culture to help new officers manage the stress of the job. To support patrol officers in the field, the department relies on specialized units, including canine officers, tactical teams, and a crisis intervention team for mental health emergencies.

Despite the high call volume, Casto praised her officers’ restraint. The department physically responded to roughly 375,000 calls last year, but used reportable force only about 300 times.

Another pressing concern for the chief is a recent uptick in assaults on officers compared to last year.

“You carry a heavy burden. It is very akin to being a parent and your children are walking around out there taking huge risks,” Casto said. In response, she is shifting the department’s focus toward improving officer safety, confidence, and training.

How the Department Utilizes Data

Casto also addressed community concerns regarding racial disparities in policing, emphasizing that the department deploys resources based strictly on data and where violence is most likely to occur. Noting that Black and Hispanic residents are disproportionately the victims of violent crime in the city, she reiterated that the department’s mission is to protect those vulnerable communities.

To ensure professionalism and build public trust, the department disciplined 109 officers last year for various violations. The department also utilizes system-generated, random body camera reviews every week to monitor interactions.

On the roads, the department is maintaining strict DUI enforcement, with Casto calling for stronger state penalties for repeat offenders. She also expressed openness to a city council pilot program for red-light cameras, provided it is driven by the community and elected officials.

As she looks further ahead in 2026, Casto said her focus remains strictly on public safety rather than politics.

“Every decision I make has to be, not political ideology, not what’s best for me and my position, it has to be what’s the best for Fresno and the people living here,” Casto said. “What keeps them the safest?”

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