FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From Police Chief to Mayor: Jerry Dyer on ICE, Crime & Leadership
New York, NY — March 3, 2026 — At a moment when immigration enforcement, public safety, and trust in government are dominating national headlines, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer brings a rare and powerful perspective to The Good Government Show. With 40 years in the Fresno Police Department — including 18 as police chief — Dyer now leads one of California’s largest cities as mayor, offering insight few others can.
In a candid conversation with host Dave Martin, Dyer addresses the growing tensions surrounding ICE operations in American cities. “We need to take a breath,” Dyer says. “If you don’t have the permission of communities to police it, you’ll be rejected.” While supporting immigration reform and the deportation of serious criminals, Dyer voices concern about how enforcement tactics are affecting local communities — particularly in Fresno’s agricultural Central Valley, where immigrant farmworkers are essential to the nation’s food supply.
“If we did not have the farmworkers in our community that generally come from Mexico, we would not be able to produce the amount of food that we do across the nation,” Dyer explains. “There’s a lot of fear in our community right now.” As mayor, he says his priority is maintaining public safety while ensuring residents — regardless of status — feel safe reporting crime, attending church, sending children to school, and going to work.
Dyer also tackles another national disconnect: why Americans believe crime is rising when data shows it’s falling. “Crime is down across America,” he notes. “But what people see every day — homelessness, vandalism, car break-ins — shapes their perception.” His solution? Better communication and marketing of government successes. “We don’t do a good job of telling people about the good,” he says. “There’s a lot more good than there is bad.”
Beyond policing and immigration, Dyer outlines major initiatives transforming Fresno, including a $100 million street repair bond, a new senior center, expanded affordable housing, and innovative homelessness programs moving hundreds into permanent housing. It’s all part of what he calls “good government” — efficient, effective leadership that maximizes taxpayer dollars.
After four decades in uniform and now five years as mayor, Dyer says public service remains a calling. “When you’ve been in public service and you feel that call,” he reflects, “you can’t say no.”
The full episode featuring Mayor Jerry Dyer is available now at GoodGovernmentShow.com and on all major podcast platforms.