REEDLEY – After nearly four decades serving the community, Reedley Police Chief Joe Garza is retiring from the force, leaving the city of Reedley much safer than he found it.
In front of the Reedley City Council on Dec. 17, city staff and the community recognized the service Garza gave to the Reedley Police Department over his 36-year tenure, including 13 full years as chief of police. City Manager Nicole Zieba praised Garza’s professionalism and commitment to lifelong learning, as well as his work that led Reedley to be named as one of the 10 safest cities of its size in all of California.
“Chief Garza is probably the most honorable noble man I know,” Zieba said. “He takes his job so seriously, and … that shows in the police force that we have. It shows in the talent that he’s been able to bring on board, … it shows in our restorative justice, which is now an award winning program that people from around this country are coming to Reedley to learn about. It’s an amazing legacy that he leaves us.”
In his parting remarks, Garza thanked the community, his family and all of the individuals within the law enforcement profession for giving him the opportunity to follow his dreams. He said that while people usually forget the dreams they had when they were sleeping, “this dream of mine is one of the dreams that I will never forget.”
“This is something I started when I was 18 years old, three months out of high school, and this is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” Garza said. “This is all I’ve ever wanted to do in my entire life. … And so it’s with a full heart that I leave this profession, at least in my current capacity.”
Garza said when he started out on the force, he told then-Chief Forrest Brown that he wanted to one day sit in his seat and retire there, and that’s exactly what he did.
“I owe that man so much because he took a chance on an 18-year-old kid, and the people that I worked with initially, gave me a chance, gave me an opportunity, provided me with everything that I needed to to be who I am,” Garza said.
Of all the good times and the bad times that he had in his time with the department, Garza said he would never trade any of them, because that’s what shaped his career. His hope, he said, was that every day he contacted somebody, he made a difference in their lives.
Zieba in her farewell presentation to both Garza and retiring Fire Chief Jerry Isaak spoke about the two as the most honorable, noble men she has ever known. Garza and Zieba started their positions with the city around the same time, and Zieba said that although it was a “tumultuous time” for the city of Reedley, Garza from day one “was beside me saying ‘I got your back.’”
“And he has had my back every single day of my tenure here,” Zieba said.
Garza equally complimented Zieba for the support she gave him as city manager, and said he was glad he never had to find out what it would be like to work with another city manager as a chief.
“I have to tell you that this community is blessed,” Garza said. “It’s blessed to have a person like her running this community. … She took a chance on me, and I appreciate everything that we have accomplished over the years.”
Garza started as a police officer in Reedley in 1988 and was named chief in 2012; his final day as a law enforcement officer was Dec. 18. Cmdr. Marc Ediger will take over as chief after years of working alongside Garza to lead the department.
“Marc is ready to take over and continue the tradition of this police department and its tradition of service,” Garza said. “I look forward to seeing everything that Marc does to continue to move this department forward.”
