Kamala Harris: Slain Pomona SWAT officer’s sacrifices ‘will live on’

Hundreds of law enforcement officials gathered Thursday to honor slain Pomona police SWAT officer Shaun Diamond, who was killed last month while helping to serve a search warrant.

“Please know that the California Department of Justice and entire law enforcement family are here for you as you grieve in this difficult time,” state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris said during a ceremony at Ontario Citizens’ Bank Arena.

Diamond, 45, was shot Oct. 28 in San Gabriel as he tried to enter the home of David Martinez, a 36-year-old known member of the Mongols motorcycle gang, authorities said. Diamond was part of a SWAT team serving a search warrant.

Authorities say Diamond was standing behind officers as they smashed through the front door of Martinez’s home with a battering ram during a search warrant operation, which was part of a larger investigation into the gang.

As officers entered the home, Martinez fired a single shotgun round and Diamond was struck in the back of his head.

Diamond died early the next day.

“This is indeed a very tragic time for our state,” Harris said, noting that four law enforcement officers were killed in six days, including two others in Northern California.

Harris said Diamond was “a mentor both within the department and the greater Pomona community.”

“To his parents … the state of California is forever grateful for his service,” she said.

To Diamond’s children, Margo and Kelly, Pomona Police Chief Paul Capraro said: “Your father was an incredibly strong man.”

Diamond started his career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1995, and came to Pomona years later, Capraro said.

Earlier this year, Capraro said, he and Diamond folded the U.S. flag at another officer’s funeral before handing it the widow. The chief emailed Diamond a week later to tell him he was proud to have performed the service with him.

Diamond replied in an email: “Thank you sir. I am grateful for your kind words. It meant a great deal to be able to stand for my friend. It was an honor to stand and pay respects to my brother.”

The chief continued, “Law enforcement is a noble profession…no one exemplified that more than Shaun.”

Meanwhile, Diamond’s accused killer, Martinez, has been charged with murder and gun and gang violations. He’s scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 13. Prosecutors are considering whether to seek the death penalty.

“We must all never forget that our law enforcement officers go to work at all hours of the day and night prepared each day to give their lives,” Harris said at the funeral. “They put service above self and they do so without any expectation of award or reward.”

“Officer Diamond’s service and sacrifices will live on in the noble work that is performed each and everyday.”

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