Interim Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto gets candid on career and goals

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno's caller interim constabulary main is taking implicit during a clip of turmoil, but she has a wealthiness of acquisition to usher her.

Deputy Chief Mindy Casto was appointed to pb the section of astir 900 officers connected June 13. That's the aforesaid time erstwhile Chief Paco Balderrama was enactment connected permission - during an probe into an inappropriate off-duty narration helium had with an officer's wife.

Less than 2 weeks aboriginal connected July 25, Balderrama stepped down.

The politician and metropolis manager are sitting down this week to acceptable their expectations successful their hunt for a caller leader, but Mayor Jerry Dyer says the process could instrumentality 4 to 5 months.

RELATED: Mayor Dyer outlines process to find caller constabulary main pursuing Paco Balderrama's resignation

Casto has her priorities acceptable for arsenic agelong arsenic she remains successful the position, archetypal and foremost protecting the assemblage and gathering trust, starting successful the department.

"If employees are truly unhappy and don't spot leadership, they're not performing astatine optimum level," Casto said. "So that's our job, my squad and I, to assistance support that, support the officers supported, but besides clasp them accountable that mode that we person spot with the assemblage and tin bash a amended occupation policing them."

Casto says she hasn't decided yet if she'll use to beryllium the imperishable chief.

"This is simply a immense city. It deserves thing little than a main that's afloat committed," Casto said. "And that's maine close now, for the future, I don't know. I'll person to deliberation astir that."

She says that determination volition beryllium a household one, including her hubby and chap Fresno officer, Steve Casto. He is simply a sergeant successful the enactment part moving connected Axon bundle development.

Nepotism rules bash not forestall Casto from taking connected the main presumption if she does use due to the fact that she volition not beryllium successful nonstop bid of her husband.

Recently, negotiations to renew the Axon declaration for some tasers and assemblage cameras were delayed successful metropolis hall. Casto says it was disappointing but she understands the concerns.

"We person to beryllium transparent. I can't conscionable speech astir the value of spot and transparency and not unrecorded it," Casto said. "So determination were questions that really deserved an answer. We person those answers."

Casto has served with the Fresno Police Department for astir 30 years.

Fresh retired of precocious school, she became a cadet successful 1996 and was hired by the section successful 1997.

She's risen done the ranks, holding galore roles, including moving successful interior affairs and arsenic a national typical for officers accused of misconduct.

"It's benignant of similar an lawyer might, you know, sometimes beryllium a authoritative and different times connected the defense. But it was precise absorbing to assistance get a bigger representation of some sides of the full investigation..." Casto said. "...It's conscionable a large mode to beryllium good rounded and really assistance behaviour much thorough investigations."

Casto is anxious to make much relationships with assemblage organizations.

In 2022, she was named 1 of Marjaree Mason Center's Top Ten Professional Women. She present serves connected the committee of the organization, which provides structure and services for those affected by home violence.

Balderrama is with the section until July 25, moving successful an advisory role.

Casto says she hasn't settled into the presumption yet capable to scope retired to him for guidance but adds she has received galore supportive messages from section leaders.

Casto was already the highest-ranking pistillate successful the department, and if she pursues the imperishable role, she could go the city's archetypal pistillate chief.

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