MEET YOUR RECRUITER

BIO:

I have worked for the Tulare Police Department for 15 years. During my time with Tulare PD, I have been assigned to the ICAC Team, Auto Theft Task Force, Crime Specs Unit, SWAT Team, and Investigations Unit. 

ONE PIECE OF ADVISE FOR APPLICANTS:

Never stop learning.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

 "Chance favors the prepared mind."

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

I fell in love with the Tulare Police Department culture and environment which made me feel at home. 

Corporal Derek Burrell

BIO:

I have been a member of the Tulare Police Department for over 20 years. During my time at Tulare PD, I have been assigned to the POP Team, School Resource Officer, Investigations Division, Crisis Negotiator, Peer Support Director and Recruitment Team. 

ONE PIECE OF ADVISE FOR APPLICANTS:

Spend some time learning about the City of Tulare and the Tulare Police Department.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

 "When the smoke clears the studs will still be   standing." -Days of Thunder.

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

I was born and raised in the City of Tulare and Tulare PD has always been attractive to me because of the diversity of officer's that make up the organization.

Officer Edward Puente

BIO:

I have worked for the Tulare Police Department for the past 9 years as a patrol officer. I have been on the SWAT Team for 7 years and on the Sniper Team for 3 of those years. I am currently on the recruitment team and serve as one of the recruit training officers at the COS Hanford Police Academy. I was recently assigned to the Crime Specifics Unit as a Gang/ Narcotics Detective.

ONE PIECE OF ADVISE FOR APPLICANTS:

“Be yourself and make a great first impression.”

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“No matter how good you get, you can always get better, and that’s the exciting part.” –  Tiger Woods.

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

Tulare PD has a reputation of being fast paced and challenging and I wanted to be a part of that team.

Corporal Michael Melikian

BIO:

I have been with the Tulare Police Department for 15 years.  During my time with TPD, I have been assigned to Patrol, Investigations, Auto Theft Task Force, SWAT, Sniper Team Leader and UAV Team Leader. 

ONE PIECE OF ADVISE FOR APPLICANTS:

“Be the hardest working person in the room.”

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Begin with the end in mind” –Stephen Covey

 WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

 Tulare PD has always had the reputation of the best agency in the county to work with a family type atmosphere.   

Officer Ryan Holmes

BIO:

I have been with the Tulare Police Department for 5 years and worked as a Field Training Officer, SWAT Team Leader and Narcotics Detective. I hold POST instructor certificates for Chemical Agents, less lethal and physical fitness.

ONE PIECE OF ADVISE FOR APPLICANTS:

Be sure law enforcement is something you really want to do.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid what man can do onto me."

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

Tulare PD offers the benefits of both a large and small department.

Officer Christopher Hinz

BIO:

I have been with the Tulare Police Department for 5 years. I am a SWAT Entry Operator, School Resource Officer (SRO), Field Training Officer (FTO), Active Shooter Instructor, First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor, Taser Instructor, a member of the Recruitment Team, and a board member of the Tulare Police Officers' Union.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:

Do not give up. Work hard. You get out of it what you put into it. 

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“We all make mistakes, but it is how we learn and grow from those mistakes that makes us a better person.”

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD: 

Tulare PD provides the tools, training, and resources for any officer who has the drive to succeed. Tulare PD offer a variety of specialty assignments and investigative units.

 Officer Pita Hernandez

BIO:

I have been assigned to patrol for approximately 2 years. I am an explorer advisor, work with the recruitment team and am a part of the Honor Guard Team.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:

Relax and smile.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“There’s no normal life Wyatt, it’s just life, get on with it.”

 WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

 I chose Tulare because of the fast-paced growth of the city knowing it would give the best learning opportunity.

Officer Michael Castaneda

BIO:

I have been a police officer with Tulare PD for 5 ½ years. I am currently assigned as a School Resource Officer, a part of the Recruitment Team, a drone pilot for the UAV Team, and a Police Explorer Advisor.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:

Remember your “why” and what brought you to this profession.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

This town holds a special place in my heart. It is where I grew up, my family is, and the agency I always knew I wanted to work for. 

Officer Alejandro Veracruz

BIO: 

I have been a member of the Tulare Police Department: for approximately 3 years. During my time with TPD I have been assigned to the SWAT Support Team, MRAP Driver, Crisis and Negotiations Team, Field Training Officer and Patrol Division.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:

“Hard work always pays off.”

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD:

 The citizens of the City of Tulare are very supportive of law enforcement. The Police Department itself has many opportunities for advancement into specialty units.

BIO:

In 2017, I started my career in Law Enforcement and never looked back. Tulare Police Department has been my home for the past three years and enjoy every minute. I’m currently a School Resource Officer (SRO), assigned to Tulare Western High School campus. Additionally, I’m a Sniper on our S.W.A.T. Team and a member of our Recruitment Team.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:

Remember doing hard things can make us want to quit at times, but doing hard things can make achieving our goals feel better, knowing we pushed forward and never gave up.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Just because I cannot see it, doesn’t mean I can’t believe it.” Jack Skellington

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD: 

Before applying with the Tulare Police Department, I spoke with an Officer from the Tulare Police Department and asked, “Tell me about Tulare” and in short this is what he said; Our Community supports us and stand by their Officers, every shift works together like a family and treat each other as such, the department is big enough to offer “Special Assignments”, but small enough to be able to have a conversations with Chief, any given day of the week. The last thing the Officer said was “if you show up every day ready to work and willing to do what is expected of you, you will have a great career with the Tulare Police Department.” Needless to say I applied and found out for myself everything I was told three years ago, was true.       

Officer Gabriel Correa

BIO:

I have been with the Tulare Police Department since August of 2022. I am a Canine Handler assigned to the Patrol Division, and a member of the Recruitment Team.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:

Once your application is in, begin studying Tulare’s geography. With the amount of information you are required to learn on Field Training, knowing how to get there is half the battle.  

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Called to a higher purpose.”

WHY I CHOSE TULARE PD: 

The Tulare Police Department is Tulare County’s Premier Law Enforcement Agency. This is truly the best Law Enforcement Agency in the Central Valley. Our department is performance driven, proactivity is encouraged, and our community support is phenomenal. Our Officers are well-compensated, and our benefits are unmatched. Ensure your families future, your professional growth, and establish your career with the Tulare Police Department. You will love every single day here.