Fresno police chief placed on leave pending investigation into inappropriate relationship

Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.Fresno Police

Fresno, California Police Chief Paco Balderrama has been placed on leave pending an investigation into an inappropriate relationship.

The news was shared with members of the Fresno Police Department on Wednesday afternoon by City Manager Georgeanne White.

“This is the most difficult time in my life and in my family’s life,” said Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama. “Please do not ask lewd questions about my family. My family is not well and I am not well,” Fox 26 reports.

The investigation into Balderrama took a new turn on Wednesday when he spoke on camera for the first time after admitting to an inappropriate relationship in a written statement on Monday. He told his police department: “My actions did not meet the standards I am expected to meet as a man of faith, husband or father. I own my mistakes, they are mine and my fault alone, and I will pay for them for the rest of my life.”

Deputy Chief Mindy Casto currently leads operations at the Fresno Police Department.