The Antioch Police Department promoted 24-year-veteran Lt. Diane Aguinaga to Police Captain this week after the retirement of Captain Leonard Orman.
The promotion ceremony took place on December 15 where Chief Allan Cantando highlighted that Aguinaga is a very talented individual and an asset to the police department.
Assemblyman Jim Frazier & Chief Cantando with newly promoted Captain Diane Aguinaga
“She has worked a variety of assignments and she is well respected amongst the staff,” said Cantando.
Captain Aguinaga began her career in law enforcement in 1991 when she was hired by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Captain Aguinaga got into law enforcement after being a political science major. It was the whole “law part” of it that she found intriguing.
“I was always interested in it. I was a political science major and the whole law part of it really intrigued. Everything about it from excitement, discipline, challenge, it had a lot to do with my decision. A lot of what I studied was involving law enforcement and I was hooked,” explained Aguinaga.
By 1993, she joined the Antioch Police Department where she has spent the last 22-years.
She explained she joined Antioch Police because they made the decision very easy for her while she was working in the jail. She highlighted that in a sense, they selected her because she was exposed to a lot of police officers across the county and they were the best fit with what she wanted to accomplish in her career.
Over her career, she credits Captain Orman, Lt. Pat Welch, and Lt. Robin Kelly as serving as her mentors.
“They are all different and in their own way helped me grow,” said Aguinaga. “I took the strengths that I didn’t have from each of them and learned from them.”
In her new position, she hopes to continue to rebuild the department and give new officers every opportunity to succeed.
“We are in the process of rebuilding, my hope is to build future leaders of the department and the generation behind me has been given all the support they need to rebuild the department and fight crime and help our citizens to the best of our ability.”
Aguinaga also highlighted that over her career with Antioch, she has come to love the citizens of the community and their never give up attitude.
“I love the citizens of Antioch, they are so loyal and dedicated, they never gave up on the town even when it’s been a rough few years,” explained Aguinaga. “I work with a lot of the volunteer and crime commission; they love Antioch and fight for Antioch. You have to love that.”
During Tuesday’s ceremony, she was proud to have her dad there to pin her new badge and for her children there to see that hard work does pay off.
“The feeling for me was happiness for my children to watch. It’s a huge message that if you work hard and make up your mind you can accomplish anything in whatever anyone chooses,” said Aguinaga. “I really appreciate the chief’s faith in me and I will try not to let him down or the community down.”
