Salinas Police Chief Adele Fresé to retire

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) UPDATE 04/28/21 11:50 a.m. - Salinas Police Chief Adele Fresé met with local media and city officials to reflect on her time as chief of a city with a violent past.

"I am filled with gratitude for the community support, it's been an honor to serve them," said Chief Fresé.

Fresé said that she felt numb and could not believe the day of her retirement is here. Chief Frese believes she has accomplished everything she promised the city she would get done.  She had a long list of things to tackle which she says 97% is accomplished. However, she said without her team it wouldn't be possible.

“They’re not my accomplishments as an individual, they’re accomplishments as a team,” said Chief Fresé.

According to statistics released by the Salinas Police Department, there were 40 murders in 2015, the year before she started, but only eight were reported last year. The number of armed robberies was also reduced from 230 in 2015 compared to 104 in 2020. Chief Fresé service stretched beyond her official duties. The director of the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace in Salinas, José Arreola said Fresé built upon the same vision as the organization.

"When Chief Fresé came back, growing the violence suppression task force that worked specifically on reducing gang violence and monitoring gang," said Arreola. " Gang violence was really critical because that's the type of precision
policing we needed to help reduce gun violence in our city."

Assistant Chief of Police Roberto Filice, will serve as the interim Chief of Police for now.

"Because a community engagement is my number one priority," said Chief Filice. "That's the first thing that I want to continue focus on, we have accomplished a lot, thanks to the involvement of the community. That's what I want to continue on and then I want to strengthen our technology base."

Chief Fresé is confidents the safety of the city will remain in good hands.

"Build a team for succession," said Chief Fresé. "It would be the biggest shame and I would be ashamed if I didn't leave the department in the position to just keep marching forward."

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Salinas Police Chief Adele Fresé announced Tuesday that she is retiring.

Mayor Kimbley Craig, City Manager Steven Carrigan, and Fresé will hold a meeting Wednesday to discuss her retirement.

"Chief Fresé has served the City of Salinas well and she will be missed. She came in as Police Chief at a very difficult time, she implemented change, and she left the department better than she found it. She should be very proud of herself," Carrigan said.

Fresé started her career in 1985 when she joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and she served in that capacity until 1992. Two years later in 1994, she joined the Corpus Christi Police Department as a patrol officer. She was later promoted to senior officer.

In 2002, Fresé became a lieutenant and served as the first night patrol lieutenant, according to the department. In 2008, she became a police commander/deputy chief for the Corpus Christi Police Department.

Fresé left the Corpus Christi Police Department in 2014 when she moved to the Greenfield Police Department to serve as the chief. In 2016, she moved to her current role as the Salinas Police Chief.

Chief Frese has made substantial changes in Salinas Police Department, that have resulted in overall crime reduction.  According to statistics released by the Salinas Police Department, there were 40 murders in 2015, the year before she started, but only 8 were reported last year. The number of armed robberies was also reduced from 230 in 2015 compared to 104 in 2020.

Chief Frese brought more women to the force, more bilingual officers and community policing. 

Chief Frese believes she has accomplished everything she promised the city she would get done.  She had a long list of things to tackle which she says 97% is accomplished.