Former Fresno Police Chief Ed Winchester has died, flags lowered to half-staff

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Former Fresno Police Chief Ed Winchester has died.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer released a statement Wednesday afternoon to announce his passing.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Former Police Chief Ed Winchester,” said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. “Chief Winchester was a one-of-a-kind police chief who was tough on crime but had a heart of gold.”

Chief Winchester was the driving force behind the dramatic violent crime reductions our city experienced in the mid 1990’s. His courageous move to create the Violent Crime Suppression Unit and deploy the departments SWAT team to patrol neighborhoods plagued by violent crime and gangs was unprecedented.

“Chief Winchester was largely responsible for my ascension within the Fresno Police Department,” said Dyer. “He promoted me to the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief, and the department’s first Assistant Chief. I owe Chief Winchester a deep debt of gratitude for his hand on my career.”

Not only was Ed my mentor, he was my friend. We spent countless hours together away from work, traveling to sprint car races in the valley and throughout the country. Memories I will cherish forever.

“Ed was a man of God, a loving husband and father who was devoted to his family, said Dyer. “My thoughts and prayers are with Ed’s wife Judy, his loving daughters Suzi, Jaime, and Jodie, and his beautiful grandchildren.”

Mayor Dyer ordered the flags at Fresno City Hall and the Fresno Police Department to be lowered to half-staff for the next seven days in honor of Chief Winchester’s life of service to our country and to our city.