Benidorm commemorates the 178th anniversary of its Local Police

The Assembly Hall of Benidorm City Council has hosted this morning the celebration of the one hundred and seventy-eighth anniversary of the birth of the body.

The mayor, Toni Pérez, together with the Councilor for Public Security, Lorenzo Martínez, and other members of the municipal corporation participated in the act. Also representatives of the consular corps, the State Security Forces and Corps, the local police from neighbouring towns and representatives of civil society, including the queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Aila Merenciano and Chloe D' Hebboudt.

The act has served for the delivery of distinctions and decorations of the Generalitat Valenciana to the members of the Local Police of Benidorm. In this way, the agents Jaime Francisco Climent, Enrique Alberto Tortosa, Ramón Agüero, Javier Jiménez Simarro, Germán Briso Montiano, José Ramón Fuentes and Nuria Blanquez have received the Police Merit Cross with Distinction.

Likewise, the Police Merit Cross with the White Distinction of the Generalitat has been awarded for a career of more than 25 years of service to the policemen Julian Diana, Marcial Sánchez, Luis Manuel Roselló, Manuel Villalón, Carlos Cañete, Jesús Manuel López, Francisco Javer Millán, Jesús David Blasco, Manuel Canallero, Juan Francisco Grande, Juan Francisco Blasco and Agustín Mirete.

Benidorm police officers Carlos Cedrón, Antonio Gorreta, Jesús López have received public congratulations for having performed especially meritorious services. Jesús Disla, David González, Pedro José Moya, Alejandro Andrés, Francisco Pérez Mas, Francisco José Colmenero, Juan Gabriel Casagrande and Pedro Antonio Martínez Castro.

Lastly, the retirement certificate has been delivered to inspector Fernando Escudero and former agents Antonio Pérez Sempere, José María Ruiz, Manuel García Mateo, Francesc Joan Rico, Emilio Manzao, Antonio Cano and Santiago Finestrat.

After the delivery of distinctions, the superintendent of Benidorm Local Police, Juan Fuertes, has taken the floor in what has been the last institutional act for him as head of the body, since he will retire in the coming months. Fuertes has referred to his colleagues as "magnificent professionals" whom he has had "the honour of directing" as the great body they are.

Fuertes, with 36 years of service, has been satisfied with "duty fulfilled" thanks to "a great staff" to whom - he stressed - he owes "all the merits" that he has had during his management.

Words full of emotion and gratitude by the still superintendent who has received congratulations from his colleagues and the hug of friends and family who were in the audience.

Toni Pérez then took the floor, thanking the work carried out by Fuertes and reminding him that "we still have a lot to do" for Benidorm and thanking him for his long professional career.

The mayor reminded the attendees of the birth on March 1, 1844 of what is today the Local Police of Benidorm, 178 years in which it has ensured "the safety, coexistence and well-being of citizens" thanks to its "commitment, protection and public service" together with the State Security Forces and Bodies, which has made this "a safe, diverse, inclusive and welcoming city".

Toni Pérez has reiterated the commitment of Benidorm society with its Local Police "celebrating with satisfaction their dedication, effort and work" and, at the same time, recognizing "the merits" achieved by its members, with the distinctions received.

The chief of the National Police, or the Civil Guard, or the Association of Civil Protection Volunteers has not been forgotten and has advocated a "teamwork" that has allowed them to be "guarantors of the defence, promotion and protection of public liberties”.

After the act, there was a wine of honour in the lobby of the Town Hall and then a convivial meal was held in a popular restaurant.