Hanford Police Department

Our Hanford PAL boxers had a sweet showing at the @gonzalez_boxing_team Madera Throwdown #4 last weekend! Champions included: Aiden Avila, 13 Noel Mejia 13 Isaac Galindo, 11 Zayden Hernandez, 13 Runner Up: Nicholas Romo Great job PAL team! And thank you for your strong leadership Coach Ruben Valdovinos!

The Hanford Police Department will host a public community engagement meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hanford Police Activities League (PAL) building, 902 N. 11th Avenue. This meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to discuss and ask questions about the annual military equipment report, as well as the department’s funding, acquisition, and use of military equipment. AB 481 mandates that all law enforcement agencies report annually on military equipment inventory and usage. View the report here: https://lnkd.in/gC4-MNZN

A Message from HPD Officer Jonathan Rivera Dear Friends and Community, I write this letter with a heart full of gratitude and appreciation for each of you who have stood by my family and me during the most difficult time of our lives. The passing of my beloved wife, Kellie, has left my family devastated, and the weight of raising our four children without her is something I never could have imagined. Kellie and I had been married for 19 years and been together for over 21. I often would say to people who asked about her “21 years and 4 kids, we must have done something right.” Yet, in the midst of this grief, we have felt the warmth of your generosity and love. Your donations of food, money, care, and prayers have lifted us in ways words can hardly express. Each meal you’ve prepared, every dollar you’ve contributed, and every prayer you’ve offered has been a comforting reminder that we are not alone. Kellie’s family coming from overseas commented often how they felt this community surround them with love and care. People who, without even knowing them, would walk up and offer a prayer or a hug. In our moments of immeasurable grief, you’ve shown up for us in ways that have touched our hearts deeply. The kindness and support from all of you have brought us strength and hope, helping us to navigate these uncharted waters. The love of a community is a powerful thing, and your unwavering care has given us the courage to continue on, for ourselves and for Kellie’s memory. When we moved here we never thought we would have to live through this, but wanted a small town community feel. What I and my family have experienced has been nothing short of humbling. Please know that your kindness has not gone unnoticed, and we will carry your compassion with us as we move forward. We are deeply grateful for your presence in our lives, and we find comfort in knowing that, while Kellie may no longer be with us, the love she shared with all of you lives on through the kindness you’ve extended to our family. With heartfelt thanks and gratitude, The Rivera family.

We are hiring! Administrative Analyst I $5,427 - $6,597/month Closing date: 2/28/25 To view more information about this recruitment and/or to apply, please visit the City’s website: https://lnkd.in/g8siAuWM

Press Release - 2/6/25 Homicide Arrest On 02/06/2025, at about 2014 hours, Officers of the Hanford Police Department and the HPD Street Crimes Unit responded to the area of the In and Out parking lot for a report of a shooting where two individuals had been shot. When officers arrived, they located a wrecked white SUV in the parking lot. Inside the white SUV, officers found the passenger who had no signs of life with an obvious gunshot wound. The passenger, later identified as 23-year-old Daniel Dawson of Lemoore, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle also had a gunshot wound. The driver was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and is not expected to survive. Witnesses reported that after the shooting and the subsequent traffic collision, a male was seen fleeing from the vehicle towards 12th Ave. Detectives worked throughout the night to collect evidence and developed leads in the case. They interviewed several witnesses and were able to identify Rafael Estrada (27 of Hanford) as a suspect in the Homicide. Investigators from the Kings County District Attorney’s Office assisted investigators from the Hanford Police Department Street Crimes Unit in tracking down Estrada to an apartment complex in the town of Goshen. Investigators were able to positively identify Estrada as he exited a vehicle in the parking lot of the complex and arrested him. Investigators are still determining a motive for the Homicide but believe an illegal drug transaction could have been a factor. Estrada was arrested for Murder and Attempted Murder. He is currently being booked in the Kings County Jail.

Press Release - Attempted Homicide On 01/31/2025, at about 1917 hours, Hanford Police officers responded to the 1800 block of Hardcastle Avenue for a report of multiple shots being fired. Multiple callers in the area reported that a dark colored vehicle had fired multiple shots from a rifle at an unknown male who fled. Officers arrived in the area to find evidence that a shooting had just happened with multiple spent rifle rounds in the street. Officers located the juvenile victim, who escaped without injury but had been struck by a rifle round in the hood portion of their hooded sweater. As officers were processing this scene, a call of a reckless vehicle was reported to Hanford PD. The vehicle reported in the reckless vehicle call matched that of the vehicle in the shooting. Patrol officers and the Hanford Police Street Crimes Unit located the vehicle in the area of Douty Street and Lang Street. Officers were able to obtain a search warrant for a nearby apartment where they located an AR-15 style rifle with a high capacity magazine loaded with rounds similar to the ones located at the shooting. The rifle did not have a serial number. Officers arrested two suspects believed to have committed the shooting. Alejandro Rodriguez (27 of Hanford)?and a juvenile suspect were taken into custody. The juvenile suspect was booked into the Kings County Juvenile Center. Alejandro Rodriguez was booked into the Kings County with a bail set at $1,090,000.?

The Hanford Police Department’s Police Activities League (PAL), a crime prevention program for local youth, has received a $10,000 grant from Leprino Foods. The company’s Community Impact Team selected Hanford PAL after inviting the nonprofit organization to apply for the funding. The company has previously supported PAL through fundraising efforts. “So it’s just somebody we wanted to come back in touch with after all these years,” said Leprino’s Alyssa Cure. “We see all of the work that they’re doing in the community. We’ve had family that’s been involved in this program, so we know the work that was happening and we just wanted to say, ‘Hey we’re still here. We’re still supportive of what you guys are doing.’” Thank you Leprino for your generous support of Hanford PAL and our community’s youth population!

Earlier this week, Hanford Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston, Lieutenant Justin Vallin and Lieutenant Jason Gustin presented a check for $1,040 to Links for Life Kings County, an organization that provides financial assistance for the early screening of breast cancer, including mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies. Last year, the police department raised funds through its PAL program by selling pink breast cancer awareness tumblers and patches. “The Kings County Community Breast Health Team who oversees the Links for Life Program in Kings County, thanks the Hanford Police Activities League for their generous donation which will assist the Links for Life Program in continuing their mission and goal of early breast cancer screening.” Pictured L to R: Lt. Vallin, Chief Huddleston, Links for Life executive board members Nancy Hitchcock, Kathy Mittleider, Candy Bertaina and Lt. Gustin.

The California Highway Patrol/AAA 10851 Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication and success in the recovery of stolen vehicles and the apprehension of suspects involved in vehicle theft. This award underscores their commitment to reducing vehicle-related crime and protecting our community. We are proud to celebrate the outstanding efforts of the following officers: ?? Sergeant Raymond Dias During the rating period of June 2023 to June 2024, Sgt. Dias recovered six stolen vehicles, leading to the arrest of six suspects. This marks Sgt. Dias’ fourth award for his exceptional work in stolen vehicle recovery and apprehensions. ?? Officer Anthany Zamora Between January 2023 and December 2023, Officer Zamora recovered three occupied stolen vehicles, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. His efforts also led to the recovery of 12 abandoned stolen vehicles, showcasing his vigilance and commitment. ?? Officer Evan Gonzales From January 2024 to November 2024, Officer Gonzales recovered five occupied stolen vehicles, leading to the arrest of five suspects. Additionally, he successfully recovered seven abandoned stolen vehicles, demonstrating his dedication to protecting our community. Your hard work and diligence make a tremendous impact on the safety of our community. Thank you, Sgt. Dias, Officer Zamora, and Officer Gonzales, for your outstanding contributions and well-deserved recognition. Keep up the great work! ??????

Tulare-Kings Police Academy hosted it's semi-annual Police Academy Meet & Greet on Friday, January 10, 2025. We had over 80 participants, which consisted of a mixture of incoming Police Academy Class 161 Cadets and individuals interested in beginning their law enforcement career. Participants had the opportunity to network with agencies and learn the academy enrollment process at an information session led by Director TOM WILSON. We also had representatives from 7 agencies throughout Tulare, Kings, Fresno, and Kern Counties. Thank you to Hanford Police Department, Delano Police Department, Visalia Police Department, Porterville Police Department, Tulare County Sheriff's Office, Tulare Police Department, and Fresno County Sheriff Dept. If your agency is looking to recruit, feel free to reach out to participate in our July Meet & Greet! COS Career Services, Jonna Schengel, Daisy Guzman M.A., Roselia Rodriguez, M.S., Bernadette Lawrence