Redaccion
The Local Police of Benidorm has commemorated its one hundred and eighty-first anniversary with an exhibition of the K9 Unit and the Response and Prevention Group (GRP) in front of the Town Hall, followed by an institutional event at the Town Hall’s Auditorium where recognitions and distinctions were awarded to agents and commemorative entities.
Shortly after ten in the morning, the audience gathered at the Plaza de Sus Majestades los Reyes de España enjoyed the exhibition of the popularly known ‘Canine Patrol’ of Benidorm, the K9 Unit, which demonstrated the harmony between the GRP agents, trainers, and canines in five fictional exercises starring Hanko and Kili, where the dogs were key in preventing various crimes on the streets.
Following the demonstration, the Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the Chief Superintendent of the LBPND, Luis Martín Arévalo, reviewed the trained agents in front of the Town Hall facade. Subsequently, the institutional event took place in the Auditorium.
The Councilor for Citizen Security, Jesús Carrobles, and other members of the municipal corporation accompanied the mayor in honoring the force, with the presence of regional deputies José Ramón González de Zárate and Mario Villar, as well as regional secretary of Housing, Sebastián Fernández, the Commissioner of the National Police in Benidorm, Luis Manuel Sánchez, and the lieutenant of the Civil Guard Traffic Detachment, Manuel Sánchez, among many other representatives from the city’s civil society.
In his institutional speech, Toni Pérez defined the Local Police of Benidorm as the «flagship» of the city, capable of serving over 380,000 people despite Benidorm’s population not yet reaching 75,000, especially during peak summer seasons. The Local Police serves as the first point of contact for those in difficulty when arriving in Benidorm. Toni Pérez encouraged agents to prioritize citizen assistance by getting out of vehicles and guiding individuals to the necessary municipal or administrative services.
The mayor emphasized his commitment to the force, established in 1844, highlighting achievements such as career development and Job Position Evaluation in the City Hall, a goal pursued for over 15 years. In light of the celebration of March 8th, Toni Pérez paid tribute to the force’s history by recalling the first promotion of female police officers in Benidorm during the UCD era, under José Such Ortega’s leadership, some of whom are still active in other municipal services.
Intendant Luis Arévalo stated that police officers are individuals working for the people, aiming to ensure a safe life for fellow citizens, advocating for an increase in the number of agents to enhance service delivery in the city.
Awards Ceremony
During the event, the Sociocultural Association of the Local Police presented a plaque of recognition to the Cultural and Recreational Association ‘La Barqueta’, while the LBPND expressed gratitude to the National Police, Civil Guard, Benidorm Firefighters, Local Red Cross Assembly, and municipal concessionaire Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas.
Additionally, the force awarded its commemorative coin to individuals who significantly contributed to the institution, including José Fuster, President of Civil Protection; Antonio Zamora, Coordinator of Beach Rescue and Lifesaving for the beach concessionaire; Chief Prosecutor at the Benidorm Courts, Mª Isabel Medina; and Chief Judge, Joan Francesc Vives.
Subsequently, the Generalitat’s distinctions and medals were awarded to members of the Local Police Force, including Antonio Ortega, Jaime Ángel González, Manuel Risueño, Álvaro Fuertes, José Tomás Galaví, Francisco Javier Sánchez, Mireia Cruz, David Fontanet, Mario César Martínez, José Ramón Fuentes, David Torres, José Casto, Ramón Agüero, Alejando Andrés, Marcos Perles, Cyntia Romero, Yolanda Bocos, Jorge Ferrer, and Jorge Martín.
Furthermore, officers David González and Jesús López were honored with the Police Merit Cross with Blue Distinction for their exemplary conduct and noteworthy performance in fulfilling their duties. Lastly, the LBPND presented a diploma and commemorative coin to the retired agents from the last year: Francisco Javier Gallego, Emilio Espejo, Saúl Pablo Pastor, Juan Vicente Soler, and Juan Miguel Igualada.
