Jerry Dyer draws on 40 years in law enforcement to confront crime, immigration, and community fear
Fogelsville, PA — What happens when a career police chief becomes mayor in one of America’s most complex cities?
On this episode of The Good Government Show, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer brings 40 years of law enforcement experience—including 18 years as police chief—into a candid conversation about crime, immigration, and the realities of governing at the local level.
Dyer challenges one of the biggest misconceptions in America today: that crime is rising.
“By and large, crime is down across America,” he says. “The problem is the perception hasn’t followed.”
That disconnect, he explains, comes from everyday “quality of life” issues—homelessness, theft, and visible disorder—that shape how people feel about safety, regardless of actual crime statistics.
At the same time, Dyer argues that government often fails to tell its own story.
“We don’t do a really good job of marketing law enforcement successes… We have to get people to realize there’s a lot more good than there is bad.”
The conversation takes a deeper turn as Dyer addresses one of the most urgent issues facing cities today: immigration enforcement and the role of ICE.
In Fresno—located in California’s agricultural Central Valley—immigrant labor is essential to the nation’s food supply. But current enforcement tactics, he says, are creating widespread fear.
“People are afraid to go to work, to church, to send their kids to school,” Dyer explains.
While supporting the removal of serious criminals, Dyer warns that aggressive tactics risk undermining public safety by eroding trust between communities and law enforcement.
“If you don’t have the permission of communities to police, you’ll be rejected.”
Beyond policing, the episode highlights the broader challenges mayors face—from housing shortages to federal policy constraints—and the need for more local flexibility to solve local problems.
Dyer also reflects on his unexpected path to public office, describing a “calling” to continue serving after four decades in uniform.
“When you’ve been in public service and you feel the call… you can’t say no.”
At its core, this episode underscores a defining theme of The Good Government Show: effective government happens closest to the people—and trust is built one community at a time.
Pull Quotes:
- “There’s a lot more good than there is bad.”
- “By and large, crime is down—but perception hasn’t followed.”
- “People are afraid to go to work, to church, to send their kids to school.”
- “If you don’t have the permission of communities to police, you’ll be rejected.”
- “When you feel the call to public service… you can’t say no.”
Closing Boilerplate:
The Good Government Show highlights the people and ideas shaping effective, responsive government across the country—spotlighting solutions, leadership, and stories that restore trust in public service.