The Mayor of Cádiz, Bruno García, presided over the institutional ceremony for the Patron Saint's Day of the Local Police, held at the Tobacco Warehouses. The event acknowledged the agents' efforts towards the safety, coexistence, and well-being of citizens. Attendees included the delegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Cádiz, Mercedes Colombo; the Government's deputy delegate, Blanca Flores; the Deputy Mayor for Citizen Security, Juan José Ortiz; and the Chief Superintendent of the Local Police, Juan Manuel Padilla, along with other municipal officials and representatives of security forces.
Awards were presented to officers for outstanding actions, as well as to citizens and professionals who have collaborated with the Local Police. Medals were also awarded for meritorious professional careers and years of service, retired officers were honored, and promotion decrees were issued. Mayor Bruno García expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the agents' proximity to residents, their presence in neighborhoods, and their ability to intervene in difficult situations, thereby improving urban coexistence. He reaffirmed the municipal government's commitment to enhancing working conditions and resources, noting the recent addition of 20 new officers, the upcoming recruitment of 25 more, and improvements in facilities, equipment, and digitalization.
Chief Superintendent Juan Manuel Padilla focused on prevention as a key tool for citizen security. He highlighted daily work in commercial area surveillance, conflict prevention, child protection by tutor officers, beach safety, and traffic control, warning that mobile phone distractions are the leading cause of road accidents in Cádiz. He also emphasized the Local Police's 33-year-long road safety education program, which reaches about 4,000 schoolchildren annually. Padilla noted the significant workload associated with cultural, festive, and social events, including Carnival, Holy Week, sports competitions, concerts, 240 processions, and over 20,000 annual calls to the police central.
Mercedes Colombo, delegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia, congratulated those recognized and conveyed the Junta's gratitude for their dedication to Cádiz's safety and coexistence, calling the Local Police the closest body to citizens. She stated that the Andalusian government supports Local Police forces through updated regulations, better resources, and training, citing the new Local Police Law and the unified access call planned for 2027. She advocated for inter-administrative collaboration.
Blanca Flores, deputy delegate of the Spanish Government in Cádiz, praised the coordinated work between the Local Police and the National Police, contributing to Cádiz's high levels of objective and subjective security. She noted that this coordination and institutional collaboration enhance resources for citizen safety measures. Flores highlighted the service spirit of local police officers, akin to National Police and Civil Guard members, who act both on and off duty to repress crime or assist those in need, emphasizing their empathy and actions to improve citizens' lives.
The ceremony included awards for officers' notable interventions, such as rescuing three people adrift, assisting an 88-year-old man who suffered cardiac arrest, and reuniting a homeless, undocumented 78-year-old man with his family after 40 years. Recognitions were also given for child protection, actions during Storm Kristin, and interventions in life-threatening situations. A tribute was paid to retired officers and fallen security personnel. The event concluded with a detailed list of distinctions awarded to external personnel, officers for meritorious actions, retirees, medals, service permanence awards, and promotions to inspector and officer.
