Greetings Coalinga Citizens, Leaders, and Business Owners, I can’t believe it has been a year since I was sworn in as your Police Chief on February 28, 2022. It has been an honor and privilege serving the citizens of Coalinga and leading the men and women of the Coalinga Police Department (CPD). This past year, I have had the opportunity to attend numerous community events and church services, and each time I received a genuine warm welcome from everyone.
This past year, I have learned a lot about Coalinga citizens but one thing that stands out is they care about their community, in fact, they love their community and support their Police Department. As your Police Chief, having community support is critical in accomplishing our goals for the City of Coalinga. Although we did have several challenges to overcome in 2022, such as staffing shortages, and increase in violent crimes, we ended 2022 in a positive direction to work on for 2023. The positive direction includes implementing problem solving strategies, using technology to reduce crime, and enhancing community trust and partnerships (See State of the Department).
Citizens of Coalinga, through these partnerships, we can strengthen and protect our community where our children live, play, and go to school. I have no doubt, by working together as a community, you will have a Police Department you can trust and be proud of. Thank you for your continued guidance and support.
Respectfully,
Jose V. Garza
Chief of Police