Agents of the National Police have celebrated the feast of their patrons the “Santos Ángeles Custodios”, in the Paraninfo of the University of Cantabria of Santander. The events were chaired by the Government Delegate in the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, Dª. Eugenia Gómez de Diego; the Counselor of Presidency, Justice, Security and Simplification Administration, Mrs. María Isabel Urrutia de los Mozos; the 1st Vice-President of the Parliament of Cantabria, Mr. Alejandro Liz Cacho; el Presidente del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Cantabria, D. José Luis López del Moral Echevarría; el Rector de la Universidad de Cantabria, D. Ángel Pazos Carro; and the Superior Chief of Police of Cantabria, Dª. Carmen Martínez Ruiz.
In addition, a representation of Civil Authorities, Police Commanders, colleagues and relatives of the decorated people attended the events.
After the celebration of the solemn Mass in the Cathedral of Santander, the institutional act of celebration of the day of the National Police has taken place, in the Paraninfo of the University of Cantabria in Santander, starting with the interpretation of the National Anthem.
Subsequently, the Superior Chief of Police of Cantabria, Mrs. Carmen Martínez Ruíz, who in her speech stressed that “being a police officer is not just a profession, it is a way of serving society based on commitment, integrity, the vocation of service and the spirit of sacrifice. The most valuable thing about the national police is its professionals. For the Cantabrian society security is of great value, it is part of its heritage, being the desired scenario to live and to develop its public and private activities.”
The Superior Chief also pointed out that “this year, the Festivity that we celebrate has a greater framework of solemnity, that of our Bicentenary”, concluding her speech “wanting to thank the entire Cantabrian society for the signs of recognition and affection that we are receiving from all the institutions and different social actors. It is a great honour to provide public service in Cantabria”.
Then, three “Crosses to Police Merit with White Badge” were presented to the personnel outside the National Police: the Rector of the University of Cantabria D. Ángel Armando Pazos Carro; al Director Territorial del Banco Santander en Cantabria y Asturias D. Manuel Ramón Iturbe Robles; and the Captain of the Civil Guard, Head of the Company of San Vicente de la Barquera D. Diego Junquera Martín. The act continued with the imposition of 15 “Crossings to Police Merit with White Badge”, to National Police, all of them assigned to the Superior Police Headquarters of Cantabria. Subsequently, the Higher Police Headquarters handed out several recognition plates to professionals outside the Institution, in gratitude for their meritorious level of collaboration with the National Police.
Then, an emotional tribute has taken place in memory of all the Policemen killed in the act of service, extending to the Civil Guard, Police of other Corps and Military who also gave their lives in the service to Spain and the citizens.
To close the event, the Delegate of the Government in Cantabria, Dª, intervened. Eugenia Gómez de Diego, who has praised the work of the National Police, highlighting its “work in protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens”, and the important role they play in making Cantabria one of the safest Autonomous Communities in Spain.
The delegate pointed out that the crime rate in Cantabria is 10 points below the national average, which places the region among the safest in the country. "Spain is one of the 25 safest countries in the world and our autonomous community is among the safest in the country thanks to the effort and dedication of the agents," he said.
He also stressed that citizen security is "fundamental" to the model of peaceful and tolerant coexistence in Spain, an achievement that he has attributed to the daily work of the national police. In addition, he stressed that, under the current government, the maximum number of troops in the State Security Forces and Corps has been reached, with more than 156,400 agents, and said that Cantabria has 87 more troops today than in 2018.
Finally, the official act of celebration with the National Police Anthem concluded.
Likewise, on October 2, the institutional act of celebration of the National Police Day took place in the Local Police Station of Torrelavega, with the celebration of the solemn Mass in the Parish of the Virgin Grande and then in the Recreation Circle of Torrelavega.
During the official act, a total of four “Crossings to Police Merit with White Badge” were imposed, one of them to personnel outside the National Police, the Local Police of the City of Torrelavega, D. Víctor González Tarano; and three others, to the National Police assigned to the Local Police Station of Torrelavega. In addition, five recognition plates were given to professionals outside the Institution, in gratitude for their meritorious level of collaboration with the National Police.
This event was chaired by the Delegate of the Government in the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, Dª. Eugenia Gómez de Diego; Councillor for Presidency, Justice, Security and Administrative Simplification, Ms. María Isabel Urrutia de los Mozos; Mayor of the City of Torrelavega, D. Javier López Estrada; el Juez del Juzgado de Primera Instancia e Instrucción nº 2 de Torrelavega, D. Enrique Quintana Navarro; y el Jefe de la Comisaría Local de Torrelavega D. Fernando Chemelal de la Riva.