PARLIER – With stars on his collar, a new badge and an approved contract, Parlier’s next police chief is ready to get to work.
In front of numerous supporters from around the Valley, Rene Garza took the oath for his new position with the city of Parlier Aug. 6 as the Parlier City Council voted unanimously to approve his contract. After a career spent 15 minutes down the road in Selma, Garza said he is ready and excited to lead public safety for the Parlier community.
“Police officers, we are servants to the community,” Garza said. “You come first. You are the foundation of the community, and we are here to serve you and to protect you, and that’s why we got into this profession — to do the right thing and to help people and to keep people safe.”
The contract approved by the city council gives Garza an initial three-year term with a base salary of $165,000. He will also be eligible to receive a 4% salary increase as an educational incentive for holding the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) management certificate, according to a city staff report.
According to the employment agreement, Garza will be entitled to severance pay equal to six months salary if he is terminated by the city manager without cause. This could include being fired for “management reasons such as implementing the city’s goals and policies,” the agreement said. It may also apply when there is a change of administration, such as in case a new city manager is appointed by the council and the new city manager and police chief have incompatible management styles.
Garza worked with the Selma Police Department for 26 years and was raised in a local family that produced multiple other area law enforcement leaders. This includes Joe Garza, who retired as Reedley’s police chief in 2024, and Ramiro Garza, who works as a sergeant at the Sanger Police Department.
When Rene Garza introduced himself to the Parlier City Council in July, he said he bases his philosophy of policing on the principles of trust, partnership and service. He reiterated that during his comments after he was sworn in.
“To the community of Parlier, I promise to lead with integrity and transparency, and always do what is right,” Garza said.
Interim reflections
As Parlier welcomed Garza, the council also said goodbye to Interim Police Chief Michael Salvador. Salvador has been with the city for 10 months, having stepped up in October 2025 after the former chief retired.
Throughout that time, Salvador led the department through the death of one of its officers in an off-duty crash, a police station renovation project and countless conversations around the department’s unsustainable budget.
Salvador has had a lengthy career in law enforcement leadership around the Valley but said serving as chief in Parlier has been one of the privileges of his professional career.
“This badge has represented far more than a title or a position; it has represented a responsibility,” Salvador said. “A responsibility to this community, to this city and, most importantly, to the men and women who come to work every day wearing the Parlier Police Department uniform.”
When giving his final staff report as chief, Salvador thanked City Manager Aaron Palmer for his trust in him and gave his gratitude to all other staff members he has worked closely with over the last 10 months. He said that with this help, as well as the council’s support, the department accomplished “15 major things in 10 months, which is almost unheard of in government.”
Members of the council likewise gave their thanks to Salvador.
“You were always there when we needed questions answered, and always took the time to make sure that things were going the way they should go,” Councilmember Janie Molina said. “And I know it’s hard because a lot of times when you get into something and you’re just thrown in there, it’s kind of hard, … but I think we did a good job.”
Development approval
The Parlier City Council also approved a conditional use permit and zoning text amendment at its Aug. 6 meeting. The conditional use permit approval will pave the way for an 11,200 square-foot commercial development proposed for the southwest corner of Manning and Academy Avenue by Bottom Line Group.
Although council members initially expressed opposition to the development when it was first brought before them in June, they changed their minds after meeting with the developers and learning more about the project in July.
The proposed development will feature a gas station with a commercial development that offers much more than a regular convenience store, Fresno-based development firm Bottom Line Group has said. The idea for the project is a general market that offers fresh and hot foods, multiple food court options and an attached diner.
The aspect of the project that includes a diner required the city to make a zoning text amendment for approval of the project. The development would be located in the C-5 zoning district, which does not currently permit sit-down restaurants.
With its actions, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance that adds sit-down restaurants to the list of allowable uses in the C-5 zoning district. The ordinance will need to be approved again on a second reading at the council’s next meeting.
