The Fresno Police Department is bringing back the central police district.
Police chief Jerry Dyer made the announcement following an update on crime in Fresno Wednesday.
Citing a 33% increase in violent crime in the city in 2016, Dyer said he will re-institute the central police district starting in January of next year.
The change would mean the city is broken into five districts rather than the existing four.
“We are going to be doing some other things to address that core area. But bringing back the central district is a reality. They Mayor is very supportive as well as the City Manager,” Dyer said.
A previous substation in the Tower District was closed in 2011.
The exact boundaries of the new district are not yet set.
The department has a computer program that can help them decide where to draw the district lines and how many officers to deploy there.
Dyer blames prop 47 and realignment for the increase in violent crime, saying it leaves too many low-level criminals on the street who go on to commit worse crimes.
