Benidorm Local Police commemorates its 180th anniversary

Benidorm Local Police has commemorated the 180th anniversary of its foundation with an institutional event held in the Town Hall assembly hall. An anniversary that the Sociocultural Association of the Local Police has celebrated in recent days.

The institutional event was attended by, among others, the mayor, Toni Pérez; the Councilor for Public Service, Jesús Carrobles; members of the municipal corporation; Senator Agustín Almodóbar, the regional deputies José Ramón González de Zárate and Mario Villar, the Inspector of the Local Police, Luis Martín Arévalo; the Chief Commissioner of the National Police Corps, Ceferino Serrano; representatives of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard, the senior judge, Joan Francesc Vives; as well as representatives of Civil Protection and the Red Cross, and a representation of agents from the Local Police.

During the event, the following people were thanked for their collaboration with the Local Police: Margarita Campos, Juan Ferrer, Jorge Rosillo, Miroslav Zemko, Isabel Ivorra, Alejandra Ramírez and Jesús Girona. Then the five local police officers who retired last year were recognized: Miguel Fariñas, José Luis Solbes, Vicente Terentí, Miguel Márquez and Agustín Gómez. Previously, a souvenir was given to the former Councilor for Public Service until last year, Lorenzo Martínez.

After these recognitions, in his institutional speech, Chief Commissioner Luis Martín Arévalo intervened to highlight the “joint effort to maintain security and peace in these 180 years” and emphasized the “fundamental work of the agents so that Benidorm is a place prosperous and secure”, as well as its “commitment to citizenship security”
Martín Arévalo has regretted that his efforts “are not always recognized,” in addition to lacking resources “due to an obsolete law.” He has assured that "we will work to update it at the next congress to be held in Benidorm" where we will also "request the improvements we need to provide the service with guarantees." However, he concluded, reiterating “our unwavering commitment to Benidorm. We are an essential service and we ensure equality as a priority.”

Later, Mayor Toni Pérez began his speech by recalling that when the Local Police was created in 1844 "there was a constitutional Spain, which debated the powers and municipal organization" and specified that it was on March 1 of that year "when "Benidorm City Council established the bases for hiring the first guards of the municipal area." “You are heirs of that first body of guards; of their duties and obligations and their rights” he told the agents.

The mayor has stated that being a member of the body “implies a vocation to serve neighbours” and has advocated offering a “quality” service. “Being able to boast of having a perception of security is very gratifying,” he stressed. The mayor has encouraged the agents to “continue generating maximum trust” and has told them that “we have always attended to your demands, even when they were not within our competence.”

After showing “our respect and admiration for your work,” Pérez congratulated “those who have retired this last year, wishing them the best in this new stage,” before “honouring the memory of those members of the Local Police who are no longer among us.” “I encourage you to continue being an example of dedication, discipline and loyalty to the city,” the mayor concluded.