Paco Balderrama thought he would have a honeymoon period as Fresno's new police chief. A recent surge in violent crime changed his mind. "Initially, I had a 30, 60, 90 day plan to kind of ease in and get to know everybody, not just the department members, but also the...
Fresno’s First Latino Police Chief Introduced to Community. Brand, Dyer, Hall Offer Strong Praise.
Paco Balderrama is Fresno's next police chief. "I'm very, very humbled to be here," Balderrama said at an introductory news conference. "My experience is that the higher you go, the smaller you feel; and you feel this small because you feel the pressure of the responsibility and the people's lives...
‘Every Police Dept. Should Mirror Its Community’: Paco Balderrama Named Fresno Police Chief
Paco Balderrama is Fresno's next police chief. The outgoing Oklahoma City deputy chief announced his departure to Fresno in a news release in that city. "Although it’s not easy to leave this city and department that I have called home for over two decades, a new challenge and opportunity await my...
Could Balderrama Be New Fresno Police Chief?
An announcement about Fresno's next police chief could be made as soon as Tuesday, sources with first-hand knowledge tell GV Wire℠. However, those same sources would not confirm other media reports that the new chief will be Paco Balderrama. Balderrama, 44, is currently deputy chief in Oklahoma City. According to...
Fresno Police Chief Pick Now Down to Two. Hall Prepares for Transition.
Two finalist remain for the Fresno police chief position. At a news conference about crime suppression on Monday afternoon, current chief Andy Hall said it is down an internal and external candidate. Multiple sources have told Politics 101 that the internal candidate is deputy chief Mark Salazar; the external candidate...
Is This Campaign Ad Racist? Or Does It Just Call a Candidate Corrupt?
The incumbent in a race for a college trustee seat says a campaign attack ad against him, mailed to voters, is racist. The flyer in question depicts Eric Payne, who is Black and is running for his third term on the State Center Community College District board, in less than...
Who Wants to Be Fresno Police Chief? Salazar Applies Again
Mark Salazar still wants to be Fresno's next police chief. As he did last year, the longtime captain applied for the position, Salazar tells Politics 101. Chief Andy Hall faces mandatory retirement next spring. He was the surprise winner in last year's search to replace the retiring (and now mayor-elect)...
Fresno PD Officer-Involved Shootings at Record Low, Dismissals Go Up
The Fresno Police Department had historic lows for officer-involved shootings and bias complaints in 2019 while experiencing a six-year high in employee dismissals. Those are the big takeaways from the city's Office of Independent Review fourth-quarter report. Listen to this article: The independent reviewer said that the three officer-involved shootings...
One Victim's Family Tries to Scrub Away the Horror
The soap bubbled off the modest-sized backyard Monday afternoon as Vu Xiong frantically tried to scrub off the horror of the night before. The smell of bleach overtook the rotting food and perhaps death. On Sunday night, Vu's brother — 38-year old Kou Xiong — gathered with friends and family...
Fresno PD Chief Welcomes Federal Scrutiny, Defends Officers
Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall says he is open to a federal investigation into a 2017 shooting death of a homicide suspect — and his department as a whole. "We want to be as transparent as possible. And, if the FBI or the Department of Justice wants to look into...