After a months-long search, the city of Fresno has sworn in Mindy Casto as it’s 24th police chief, and it’s first female chief.

The ceremony took place on Feb. 28 at the William Saroyan Theatre.

Casto has been serving as interim police chief for the Fresno Police Department (PD) since June following former Chief Paco Balderrama’s summer scandal that involved him having an affair with another officer’s wife. 

Fresno PD is now looking to put the past behind them and start fresh.

“I am one hundred percent confident as I stand here today that we have appointed a police chief who not only knows how to keep Fresno safe, but she knows how to do it while maintaining the trust and the support of our citizens,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer at Casto’s swearing-in ceremony.

Casto began working for Fresno PD almost three decades ago and has since risen through the ranks. As a child, she said she always knew it was her calling to serve her community.

“My first introduction to Fresno PD was on a ride along,” Casto said at the ceremony. “I was fifteen years old…but it absolutely altered the trajectory of my life. I just immediately knew I was meant to be a Fresno police officer.”

City Manager Georgeanne White reflected on Casto’s approach to policing.

“It doesn’t matter if you were in a male-dominated profession or not,” White said. “When you show up, work hard, smart and competently, success will follow. I think Mindy’s thirty year track record in the police department is proof of exactly that.”

Despite the amped up speeches, Casto made it clear that her stint as chief would be a meaningful one.

“We’re talking about a lot of nice things today but make no mistake, the Fresno Police Department will not be soft on crime under my leadership as chief,” Casto said.