At the time Dyer said he was stepping down, but not immediately. Instead Dyer agreed to stay on as interim chief while the city conducted a nationwide search for his replacement. But Action News has learned that the search did not produce any candidates that city leaders were comfortable with.
There are many reasons why potential candidates may have shied away from Fresno. The department has lost more than one-hundred officers in the last 18 months due to budget cuts through attrition and shed hundreds of civilian positions -- decimating the Records, Crime Scene Bureau and Dispatch units.
During his 10 years as Chief, Dyer led the department through several difficult issues including an incident where K9 officers shot off illegal fireworks near passing planes at FYI and the beating of homeless man Glen Beatty which was caught on tape.
But the chief also led the city through a record low crime rate and national recognition for traffic safety, gang suppression and accreditation. While many credit Dyer for the city's success, the chief said the success was not his alone. "I've been truly blessed of God to be able to serve in the Fresno Police Department, to be able to serve among some of the bravest men and women alive."
There is no exact time table for the chief's new departure date other than it will be roughly two years from now.
