February 2, 2026 Press Release City of Lindsay Announces New Director of Public Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The City of Lindsay is pleased to announce the promotion of Nicholas Nave to the position of Director of Public
Safety, effective Monday, February 2, 2026. During his service as Interim Director of Public Safety, Nave provided
steady leadership and now assumes the role on a permanent basis.

Chief Nicholas Nave was born in San Luis Obispo, California to his parents, David and Patti and was raised in Visalia
most of his life. He put himself through the Tulare-Kings Counties Basic Police Academy at College of the Sequoias
while working full-time at the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.

He was hired by the Lindsay Department of Public Safety on March 8th, 2002. After completing the Field Training
Program, he worked patrol for three years. In 2005 he was assigned as the department’s first full-time motorcycle-based
traffic enforcement officer.

Promoted to Sergeant in May of 2006, he was assigned as a Patrol and Investigations Supervisor. He was also a member
of a multi-agency investigative and high-risk search warrant team comprised of officers from the Exeter, Farmersville,
Lindsay, and Woodlake Police Departments. He’s a certified instructor for RADAR, Taser Conducted Electrical
Weapons, Defensive Tactics, Child Passenger Safety Technicians, and First Aid & CPR. He was among the first officers
cross-trained to fulfill fire service duties and holds a Firefighter certification from the California State Fire Marshal’s
Office.

In 2018 he was promoted to Lieutenant, and was assigned to the Services Division, which encompasses the department’s
Fire, Evidence, Animal Control, and Investigative functions. In 2022 he was put in charge of the department’s
Operations Division, which is responsible for day-to-day police services, training, scheduling, and legal compliance.
While working full-time for the Lindsay Department of Public Safety, he completed both Bachelor of Science and
Master of Science degrees in Criminal Justice. Additionally, he holds Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, and
Management Certifications from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Chief Nave has been the recipient of the Central California Mothers Against Drunk Driving DUI Enforcement Award,
Senate District 14 Firefighter of the Year Award, Public Safety Employee of the Year Award, and Lindsay Chamber of
Commerce Man of the Year Award.

In 2020 he and his wife founded a §501(c)(3) non-profit public charity to provide education and resource assistance to
families throughout California’s Central Valley on the correct installation and use of child passenger restraints. To date,
their organization has provided car seats, bicycle helmets, and other child safety equipment free of charge to hundreds
of underserved families throughout Tulare, Kings, Kern, Fresno, Madera, and Mono Counties.

He and his wife, Adriana, have four children and in their off time they enjoy going to church, spending time outdoors,
and volunteering in their community.

As a long time Lindsay resident, Chief Nave is thankful for the opportunity to continue to improve the department’s
operations, deepen its connection to the community, and work collaboratively to ensure that Lindsay continues to be a
great place to live, work, and play.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kuyler Crocker, City Manager
kcrocker@lindsay.ca.us
559-562-7102 Ext. 8010