March 2, 2025 – Fresno Police Department officials proudly announced the swearing-in of the new 24th police chief on February 28, 2025.
Chief Mindy Casto has been with the Fresno Police Department since 1992 when she started her career as a police Explorer in high school. As a product of community policing, she became a cadet and was promoted to police officer after graduating #1 from the Fresno City College police academy class #72. Chief Casto spent several years on patrol in various districts and served as a detective and companion officer.
After being promoted to sergeant in 2003, she served in patrol as an Internal Affairs investigator and supervised the Accountability and Compliance Section and the Domestic Violence Unit. As a lieutenant, Chief Casto has served as the Internal Affairs Commander. As a captain, she led the Northeast and Central policing districts. She served as the Investigations Division Administrative Commander, where she was responsible for MAGEC and the Street Violence, Special Investigations, and Family Justice Bureaus. Chief Casto has served on the Fresno Police Officers’ Association Legal Defense board of trustees and as an elected board member. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police and POST Executive Development Course.
Chief Casto sits on the board of directors for the Fresno Police Chaplaincy and Fresno Police Officers’ Foundation and was awarded as one of Fresno’s Top Ten Professional Women by Marjaree Mason Center in 2022. Upon promotion to Deputy Chief in 2022, Chief Casto was assigned to the Support Division, which includes Traffic, 9-1-1 Center, K9, Skywatch, SWAT, EOD, Student Resource Officers, Crisis Negotiators, Crime Scene Investigations, and more. Chief Casto was appointed Interim Chief in June 2024 and named the 24th Fresno Police Chief in February 2025.
Chief Casto is fully committed to making Fresno one of the safest large cities in California and the Fresno Police Department the best department in the nation.
Source & photos: Fresno Police Department
