Officer gets promotion for well earned Claremont service

COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy

From left to right, Corporal David DeMetz, Sergeant Aaron Fate, Sergeant Jason Walters and Lieutenant Ciszek are congratulated by Police Chief Paul Cooper during Thursday evening’s promotions ceremony at city hall.

Officer gets promotion for well earned Claremont service

Add another set of stripes to his uniform and a new title ahead of his name. Mike Ciszek was just promoted to the rank of Lieutenant following 13 years of service for the Claremont Police Department.

With his shaved head and distinctive mustache, Lt. Ciszek, can often be spotted driving one of the police department’s motorcycles around town. As head of the Police Department’s Traffic Bureau, Lt. Ciszek oversees Claremont’s 4 traffic enforcement cops and the city’s efforts in promoting traffic safety.

“During his tenure in the position, traffic accidents in the city have steadily declined,” Claremont Police Chief Paul Cooper said.

In 2008, Lt. Ciszek was honored as the City Employee of the Year. Under his leadership, the city has secured several grants totaling over one million dollars for programs and projects in Claremont.

Last year, he secured a Safe Routes to School grant, typically awarded to city Engineering Departments. The grant is used to promote students biking or walking to school by funding projects that remove barriers that currently hinder them from doing so.

The city has also run several sobriety checkpoints with grant money secured by Lt. Ciszek.

Lt. Ciszek holds a Bachelors Degree from Cal Poly Pomona and a Masters Degree from Cal State Long Beach.

COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy

Claremont Police Officer Mike Ciszek has his badge pinned on his uniform by his father Walter Ciszek during his promotion to Lieutenant on Thursday evening. Lieutenant Ciszek has served on the Claremont Police Department for 13 years.

During his swearing in ceremony Thursday night at the Police Commission meeting, Mike’s father pinned his new badge on his sleeve. The senior Mr. Ciszek is a retired Captain with the Montclair Police Department.

Along with Lt. Ciszek, Jason Walters and Aaron Fate were promoted to the rank of Sergeant and David DeMetz was promoted to Corporal.

Sgt. Walters and Sgt. Fate have both served in the Claremont Police Department for over 10 years. Corp. DeMetz has been with the department since 2004.

“These promotion will provide new leaders in the Police Department that bring new ideas and fresh perspectives in bringing law enforcement services to the community,” Chief Cooper said.

—Tony Krickl