• With this act, Benemérita renews its commitment to service society

• Have been decorated and recognized civil guards who provide or have provided service in the Region and other authorities

Murcia, May 11, 2025. The Civil Guard celebrated this morning in Alhama de Murcia the 181st anniversary of its foundation. The delegate of the Government in the Region of Murcia, Mariola Guevara, has presided over the act together with the chief colonel of the Area of Murcia, Francisco Pulido, who have been accompanied by other civil and military authorities.

The objective of this celebration is the renewal of the commitment of service to society by the Civil Guard, the endorsement of the validity of the values and principles on which the Institution is based and the recognition and gratitude to those members of the Corps who have so far provided service to citizens. In the course of the event it will be illustrated with historiographical references of the founding period in the Region of Murcia.

After reading the Founding Decree, which dates from May 13, 1844, it has been honored and distinguished with the imposition of decorations of the Order of Merit of the Civil Guard, both to members of the Benemérita and to military authorities.

The colonel of the Air and Space Army, Alberto José Lens, head of the Alcantarilla Air Base, and more than twenty civil guards have been decorated. In addition, a dozen civil guards, who have recently gone into reserve or retired status, have been honoured with the award of a diploma.

181 years of history

The Civil Guard was created on March 28, 1844, by Royal Decree, as a special Armed Force Corps of infantry and cavalry with the denomination of Civil Guards. The responsibility of organizing this body was entrusted to the field marshal Francisco Javier Girón y Ezpeleta, second duke of Ahumada.

In response to this request, the Duke of Ahumada presented on April 20 a report on the organization of the body, which immediately repealed the first royal decree and gave rise to the publication of a new one on May 13, 1844. Today the Civil Guard is present throughout the national territory and has more than 78,000 troops and 2,000 barracks and posts.

In addition to guaranteeing compliance with the laws, ensuring the free exercise of rights and freedoms and preserving citizen security, it is also the mission of the Civil Guard to care for and help citizens through collaboration with the Civil Protection services; rescue and help in the mountains and territorial sea and, in general, any action that leads to the relief, help and protection of citizens. The Civil Guard also has a series of specific missions, such as the control of weapons and explosives; the fiscal protection of the State; traffic on interurban roads, except in those autonomous communities that have assumed it; security in ports and airports, and the protection of nature, among others.

For the performance of all these missions, the Civil Guard is structured in more than twenty specialties, among which are the Traffic Group, and services such as Seprona, Air, Cynology, Explosives Deactivation and Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Defense (NRBQ), Maritime and Underwater Activities, Mountain or the Fiscal Service, as well as different investigation units (Information Service and Judicial Police) and Intervention (UEI, UAR and ARS).

Currently, the Civil Guard is also present abroad, deployed in the different international missions in which it participates, as well as in advisory work and collaboration with police from other countries.