Jerry Dyer

Jerry Dyer
Official portrait, 2021
Jerry Dyer
Born	Jerry Phillip Dyer 3 5, 1959
Birthplace	Fresno, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former law enforcement officer
Known for	26th Mayor of Fresno; 21st Chief of Police of Fresno
Education	California State University, Fresno (BS) California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (MS)

Jerry Phillip Dyer (born May 3, 1959) is an American politician, Republican, and former law enforcement officer who serves as the 26th and current mayor of Fresno, California. Before entering elected office, Dyer spent more than three decades with the Fresno Police Department, rising through the ranks to become the city's 21st chief of police, a position he held from August 2001 to October 2019 under three successive mayors. His tenure as police chief, one of the longest in the department's history, was marked by both significant reforms and recurring controversies that shaped public discourse in Fresno for nearly two decades. Dyer won the Fresno mayoral race in the March 2020 presidential primary election and took office in January 2021. As mayor, he has focused on economic development, public safety, and infrastructure projects, including the controversial Southeast Development Area (SEDA) mega-development in southeast Fresno.

Early Life

Jerry Phillip Dyer was born on May 3, 1959, in Fresno, California. He grew up in the Fresno area, a city in California's San Joaquin Valley that serves as the economic and cultural hub of the state's agricultural heartland. Details regarding his family background and childhood have not been extensively documented in public sources. Dyer remained rooted in the Fresno community throughout his life, eventually dedicating his entire professional career — first in law enforcement and later in politics — to the city of his birth.

Education

Dyer pursued his higher education at California public universities. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Fresno, commonly known as Fresno State. He later obtained a Master of Science degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. His advanced education complemented his law enforcement career and contributed to his progression through the ranks of the Fresno Police Department.

Career

Fresno Police Department

Dyer joined the Fresno Police Department as a patrol officer and spent more than three decades in the department, ascending through multiple ranks. His career in law enforcement encompassed a wide range of assignments and responsibilities within one of California's larger municipal police forces. Over the course of his service, he gained experience in various divisions of the department before ultimately being appointed to its top leadership position.

Appointment as Chief of Police

On August 1, 2001, Dyer was appointed the 21st chief of police of Fresno, succeeding Ed Winchester. His appointment marked the beginning of what would become one of the longest tenures for a police chief in Fresno's history. During his time as chief, Dyer served under three different mayors: Alan Autry, Ashley Swearengin, and Lee Brand.

Tenure as Chief

Dyer's eighteen-year tenure as Fresno's police chief was described by KQED as "remarkable" and "sometimes shocking," reflecting the complexity and high-profile nature of his leadership. As the head of a police department serving one of California's largest cities — Fresno's population exceeded 500,000 residents during his tenure — Dyer oversaw policing operations during a period of significant social and demographic change in the San Joaquin Valley.

Throughout his years as chief, Dyer became one of the most recognized public figures in Fresno. His long service meant that he was involved in the department's response to numerous major incidents, policy changes, and community relations efforts over nearly two decades. The length of his tenure was itself noteworthy; few police chiefs in major California cities served for comparable durations.

Dyer's time as chief was not without controversy. The KQED investigation into his career documented various aspects of his leadership that drew both praise and criticism from different segments of the Fresno community. These controversies became part of the public record and were revisited during his subsequent campaign for mayor.

Dyer stepped down as chief of police on October 16, 2019, and was succeeded by Andy Hall in the position. His departure from the department came as he prepared to run for the office of mayor of Fresno.

Mayoral Campaign (2020)

Following his retirement from the Fresno Police Department, Dyer entered the race for mayor of Fresno. He ran as a Republican in the March 3, 2020, presidential primary election, which in California also included local races. His candidacy drew significant attention given his high public profile from nearly two decades as the city's police chief.

Dyer's campaign benefited from widespread name recognition in Fresno. His long tenure as chief had made him a familiar figure to many residents across the city's diverse neighborhoods. The mayoral campaign was closely watched both locally and regionally, with media outlets examining his record in law enforcement as a central issue.

Dyer won the mayoral election in the March 2020 primary with sufficient support to avoid a runoff, securing the office outright. The Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters certified the results, confirming his election as the 26th mayor of Fresno.

Mayor of Fresno

Dyer took office as mayor of Fresno on January 5, 2021, succeeding fellow Republican Lee Brand. His transition from law enforcement to the mayor's office represented a significant shift in role, from an appointed department head focused primarily on public safety to an elected executive responsible for all aspects of city governance.

First Term

As mayor, Dyer focused on several policy areas including public safety, economic development, homelessness, and infrastructure improvements. His background in law enforcement informed his approach to public safety issues, which remained a central concern for Fresno residents. The early portion of his tenure coincided with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed challenges for city operations and the local economy.

Dyer sought and won a second term as mayor. Results from the 2024 election cycle confirmed his continued service, with the Fresno County elections office documenting the candidates and results for the March 2024 election.

Southeast Development Area (SEDA)

One of the most prominent and contentious projects of Dyer's tenure as mayor has been the Southeast Development Area, commonly known as SEDA. The proposed mega-development in southeast Fresno represents a large-scale urban expansion effort that has generated significant debate within the community.

In February 2026, Dyer stated publicly that he would be "negligent" not to pursue the SEDA project despite setbacks and opposition. The project has been a subject of ongoing coverage by the Fresno Bee and other local media outlets, with Dyer expressing his commitment to seeing the development come to fruition even as it faced challenges.

The SEDA proposal has drawn both supporters who see it as essential for Fresno's growth and critics who have raised concerns about its environmental impact, infrastructure demands, and effects on existing communities. Dyer has positioned the project as central to his vision for the city's future development.

Immigration and ICE Enforcement

In early 2026, Dyer drew national attention for his public criticism of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Fresno, a notable stance given his Republican Party affiliation and law enforcement background. Dyer called on ICE to "pause and reassess" how it operates in cities, characterizing certain enforcement tactics as a threat to trust and public safety.

Specifically, Dyer expressed opposition to ICE agents wearing masks during enforcement operations, arguing that the practice undermined accountability and public trust. In an interview with Yahoo News in February 2026, Dyer — drawing on his experience as the city's former longtime police chief — explained his views on why ICE agents should not wear masks during operations.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January 2026, Dyer used the occasion to publicly address what he described as problematic federal immigration enforcement tactics. GV Wire reported that Dyer "spoke truth to power about President Trump's paramilitary ICE forces," describing the Republican mayor's willingness to criticize a presidential administration of his own party on the issue of immigration enforcement methods.

Dyer's position reflected his perspective as a former law enforcement leader who understood the importance of community trust in effective policing. He argued that aggressive and non-transparent enforcement tactics could damage relationships between law enforcement and immigrant communities, ultimately making cities less safe.

Remaining Term and Future Plans

As of February 2026, Dyer was in his second term as mayor and had outlined several ambitious goals for the remainder of his tenure. In an interview with the Fresno Bee, he discussed his plans and priorities for the city, which included continued pursuit of the SEDA project, public safety initiatives, and other development efforts. Dyer addressed multiple topics in public appearances and media interviews, including the SEDA development, ICE enforcement concerns, and other issues facing the city.

Personal Life

Jerry Dyer has been a lifelong resident of Fresno, California. His deep roots in the community have been a defining feature of both his law enforcement career and his political life. Throughout his decades of public service — first as a police officer, then as police chief, and finally as mayor — Dyer has maintained his residence in the city of his birth.

Dyer is a member of the Republican Party. His political affiliation has been a subject of public discussion particularly in the context of his criticisms of federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which placed him at odds with elements of his own party on the specific issue of ICE tactics.

Recognition

Dyer's career in Fresno has spanned more than four decades of public service, encompassing his years as a patrol officer, his eighteen-year tenure as chief of police, and his service as mayor beginning in 2021. His appearances have been documented by C-SPAN, reflecting his profile as a public official of note beyond the Fresno area.

His willingness to publicly criticize ICE enforcement tactics in early 2026 drew coverage from national and regional media outlets including Yahoo News, KQED, GV Wire, KMPH, and the Fresno Bee, elevating his profile in national discussions about immigration enforcement and local governance.

KQED's in-depth profile of Dyer characterized his career as "remarkable" in its scope and duration, noting both his accomplishments and the controversies that accompanied his long tenure in Fresno public life.

Legacy

Jerry Dyer's career represents an unusual trajectory in California municipal politics: a police officer who rose through the ranks to lead a major city's police department for nearly two decades before winning election as that same city's mayor. His combined service as police chief and mayor has made him one of the most consequential figures in Fresno's modern political history.

As police chief from 2001 to 2019, Dyer shaped the Fresno Police Department during a transformative period for American policing more broadly, as law enforcement agencies nationwide grappled with issues of community trust, use of force policies, and demographic changes. His lengthy tenure provided a degree of continuity and stability in the department's leadership that was unusual among major California cities.

As mayor, Dyer has pursued large-scale economic development projects such as SEDA while also engaging with national policy debates, most notably on immigration enforcement. His public criticism of ICE tactics in 2026, despite his Republican affiliation and law enforcement background, illustrated a willingness to break with partisan expectations on matters he viewed through the lens of public safety and community trust.

Dyer's influence on Fresno extends across multiple dimensions of city life — from policing strategies and public safety to urban development and intergovernmental relations. Whether his tenure will ultimately be assessed as a period of positive transformation or one marked by unresolved controversies remains a subject of ongoing public discussion in Fresno and the broader San Joaquin Valley.