Police

CHIEF'S MESSAGE

Greetings, Coalinga Citizens, Community Leaders, and Business Owners. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you and lead the men and women of the Coalinga Police Department. I'm so proud of the men and women of the Coalinga Police Department who work hard each day to keep you and your family safe, along with your partnership in helping us build a safe community. As your Police Chief, I have seen a positive trend in crime reduction and in building your trust. However, it wasn't always that way when I first started as your Chief four years ago on January 28, 2022. 

I remember the challenges we had to overcome in my first year in 2022, when the Department experienced staffing shortages and an increase in violent crimes, specifically gang violence. We ended my first year in 2022 with a 17% increase in crime and a total of 325 victims. Having 325 of our residents victimized was unacceptable, so in the following years, we implemented and built specific problem-solving strategies. Strategies such as the implementation of a Community Video Policing Program in the City of Coalinga to help reduce and deter crime, which involved the installation of 56 surveillance cameras with 99 camera views. The 56 cameras included 25 license plate captures. 

In addition, the hiring of more officers who have made significant arrests of gang members and thieves, along with enhancing community trust and partnerships through positive engagement. These problem-solving strategies had a positive impact on shifting the momentum in reducing crime each year. The following year, in 2023, we saw a reduction of crime by 15%, with 276 of our residents victimized, and in 2024, we had an unprecedented reduction of crime by 27%, which meant we had only 201 of our residents victimized, compared to my first year in 2022, of 325 victims. The goal for 2025 was to reduce victimization to fewer than 200 in the City of Coalinga. I'm proud to say we met our 2025 goal, ending the year with a 3% reduction in crime, with 195 of our residents victimized. 

These significant reductions in victimization have made the City of Coalinga one of the safest communities in the Central Valley. These specific problem-solving strategies and your partnership are working, so we need your continued support in several ways. For example, report the crime when it occurs, provide any camera footage of the suspect(s) committing the crime, and be a credible witness. In addition, don't make it easy for thieves to steal your valuables from your car, hide or remove your valuables, lock your car, and take your keys. I have no doubt that, by working together as a community, we can continue to reduce the number of residents victimized, build a Police Department you can trust and be proud of, and remain one of the safest communities in the Central Valley. Thank you for your continued guidance, support, and for allowing me to serve you and lead the men and women of the Coalinga Police Department. 

Respectfully,

Jose V. Garza Chief of Police

Mission Statement

It is the Mission of the Coalinga Police Department to provide a high level of police services, in partnership with the citizens of Coalinga, to maintain a safe and peaceful environment that contributes to the quality of life and to enforce laws and safeguard individual liberties.

We will conduct ourselves according to the highest ethical standards and treat others with fairness, dignity, and respect.

We will maintain an organization of caring professionals who deliver service to the Community in a realistic, sensitive positive manner.

We will pursue both organizational and personal positive development.