Fred Beltran

Fred R. Beltran, a lifelong resident of Calipatria, California, passed away on October 9, 2026. He devoted his life to his family, his community, and public service.
Fred was born and raised in Calipatria and attended the Calipatria schools, including Bonita, Fremont, and Calipatria High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1972. He married his high school sweetheart, Martha, on June 16, 1973. Together they raised two sons, Freddie Jr. and Jaime Daniel Beltran.

Fred began his law enforcement career on October 8, 1974, as a Police Cadet with the Calipatria Police Department. In August 1975, he was designated as a Police Reserve by Police Chief Frank Emanuel. He was promoted to full-time status as a Police Officer in February 1976 and attended the Riverside Sheriff’s Academy in Riverside, California, graduating with Class 68 Basic. Fred was promoted to Sergeant in February 1979. In May 1979, he transferred to the Coachella Police Department, and in November 1979, he transferred to the Westmorland Police Department. He was promoted to Sergeant in October 1980 and to Police Chief in February 1989. Fred served 28 years as Police Chief for the Westmorland Police Department until his retirement on July 1, 2017. His law enforcement career spanned a total of 42½ years of dedicated service.

During Fred’s tenure with the Westmorland Police Department, he was a member of the Westmorland Lions Club and Westmorland Little League Baseball. He served as Executive Director of the Westmorland Police Activity League and as a Board Member of the Imperial County Narcotic Task Force.

Fred was elected as a City Councilman in April 1997 and served through November 2017—20 years as a Councilman, including 5 years as Mayor. He was re-elected as a Councilman in November 2022 for a 4-year term and served until his passing.

He was also a member of the Calipatria State Prison Citizen Advisory Committee, a Calipatria Redevelopment Board Member, a member of the Imperial County Pollution Committee and the Airport Commission Committee, and served as President of the Calipatria Centennial Committee and as a Board Member of the Calipatria Latin American Club.

Fred volunteered his services to the Calipatria Little League Baseball program as a Coach and Umpire from 1984 to 1998, and to the Calipatria Little League Basketball Program from 2010 to 2019.

Fred is survived by his wife, Martha; his two sons, Freddie Jr. and Jaime Daniel Beltran; 8 grandchildren; and 3 great-granddaughters.

Fred’s life was defined by service to his family, his department, his city, and the many organizations he supported. He will be deeply missed and long remembered by all whose lives he touched.