On Thursday, April 2, more than 60 people filed into Claremont City Hall for the first Police Commission meeting since Diego Rios was killed in police custody last November. Many 5C students took to the podium to speak during public comment, calling for transparency from the Commission and outlining clear steps to improve responses to mental health crises.
Last fall, Diego Rios was pulled over by officer Joshua Orona and corporal Benjamin Alba while experiencing “an apparent mental health crisis,”as the Claremont Courier reported in February. He was tased, held face down on the ground in a prone restraint by corporal Alba and quickly fell unconscious. Diego Rios was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Since his death, Claremont community members — including 5C students — have attended weekly rallies and city council meetings to demand justice for the Rios family.
Throughout the meeting, attendees spoke to the Commission, urging them to prevent future fatal incidents and provide the Rios family with more information about the employment status of corporal Alba and officer Orona and what changes the department will make in the wake of the homicide.
The Claremont Police Commission meets on the first Thursday evening of “selected months” and canceled its February meeting due to a “lack of business.” The commission meetings provide time for public comment and presentations by government officials on police department issues.
Last Thursday, the Commission — consisting of local residents appointed by the City Council — only engaged with commentators to manage time limits for each speaker.
“By its own rules, the Commission exists to create dialogue between the Police Department and the community. What we saw was the opposite,” Victor Rios Jr., Diego Rios’ brother, wrote in an email to TSL after the meeting. “They had every opportunity to address what happened and what needs to change so as to ensure no one else has to die by prone physical restraint at the hands of Claremont PD. Instead, the community was met with complete silence.”
“By its own rules, the Commission exists to create dialogue between the Police Department and the community. What we saw was the opposite.”
Community members took to the stand to ask follow-up questions on Police Chief Mike Ciszek’s yearly review presentation, which speakers pointed out omitted the homicide of Diego Rios. Attendees were disappointed that, when given an opportunity to respond to public comment, Ciszek shook his head.
“I am really upset at the suave attitude of the chief of Claremont Police Department when they are active perpetrators of violence in this community,” attendee Olivia Yoo SC ’26 said.
Victor Rios Jr. organized the “Justice for Diego” campaign and also expressed his frustration with the Commission’s lack of engagement.
“At the April 2 meeting, they did nothing,” he wrote. “Every public comment and question was about Diego’s homicide, and still, the Commission chose not to engage.”
Early in the meeting, city attorney Alisha Patterson presented on public disclosure laws following a use-of-force incident, explaining that most information about officers is kept confidential throughout ongoing investigations. However, the presentation did not mention Diego Rios’ case explicitly, which involved use of force.
Victor Rios Jr. said he thought the presentation about protecting officers’ personal information was a way to avoid community members’ concerns.
“This level of gaslighting is an insult to the intelligence of the community,” Victor Rios Jr. wrote.
According to California bill SB 1421, commonly referred to as “The Right To Know Act,” police personnel records regarding use-of-force incidents resulting in death or severe bodily injury must be made accessible to the public.
“Meanwhile, the real issue went unanswered,” Victor Rios Jr. wrote. “Under SB 1421, the public has a right to know about any disciplinary action given to police officers involved in use-of-force incidents. Especially if these incidents are fatal. Instead of transparency, we got deflection.”
Attendees also advocated for improved mental health support. Jason Alperin PO ’28 has participated in rallies and city council meetings for the Rios family and brought up Tri-City Mental Health — an organization supporting mental health in Claremont, La Verne and Pomona — as an alternative response to criminalization.
“I think that [justice for Diego Rios] means that we need to better implement Tri-City’s mental health service, specifically the mobile crisis care response team,” Alperin said.
Sky Caldwell SC ’26 also highlighted Tri-City as an existing tool that could have prevented Diego Rios’ death.
“[Claremont has] a crisis support system. They have Tri-City, which is funded, [and] they’ve used to respond to crises before,” they said. “Diego [Rios] needed help. He did not need a body bag. He needed support in a time of crisis.”
The Rios family plans to continue to advocate for change.
“Going forward, we encourage everyone to continue the fight and demand justice for Diego,” Victor Rios Jr. wrote. “Keep joining us at the rallies. And join us in pushing the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division to press criminal charges and hold these violent and dangerous officers accountable.”
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