The Local Police of Elche celebrated the festivity of their patron saint, San Rafael, today Sunday, 27th September, with the traditional institutional event dedicated to recognising extraordinary merits and services rendered by members of the force, professionals from other fields, and personnel who have collaborated with the Local Police.
Following the traditional inspection of the Local Police formation, the flag-raising ceremony took place alongside a tribute to the fallen, which featured the placement of a laurel wreath and the bugle call of prayer.
One of the central moments of the day was the presentation of various distinctions. In total, 199 awards were granted, distributed among 8 institutional plaques, 57 diplomas for outstanding services, 47 medals for participation in operations related to the 2024 DANA, and 87 silver medals for police merit in Elche.
The mayor, Pablo Ruz, highlighted during his speech the gratitude and pride of the entire city towards the members of the Local Police and underlined their ability to prepare and adapt to a growing and transforming city as well as new security realities. In this regard, he recalled that a progressive incorporation of new officers is planned to respond to the challenges of the coming years.
Ruz announced that the headquarters and his team are finalising the first Strategic Plan for the Local Police of Elche, a tool designed to prioritise and improve the organisation of all resources with the aim of continuing to enhance the care received by local residents. The mayor pointed out that emergency response and attention will be one of the pillars of this strategic plan, supporting municipal efforts to reinforce a culture of prevention and risk response capacity.
During his address, Ruz also advanced that the City Council is preparing the project for the Security and Emergency Response Training Centre, which will be located in the facilities of the former Carlos III school in the San Antón neighbourhood. The project will be included in the upcoming municipal budget.
The mayor also dedicated part of his speech to publicly recognise the work of Civil Protection volunteers, announcing that during the first quarter of 2027, a specific Civil Protection Day will be established in Elche to honour those who selflessly dedicate their time and lives.
For his part, the Local Police Commissioner, José Fernández Villafranca, stressed that behind every medal and police recognition lies a story linked to interventions that have prevented tragedies, saved lives, or addressed highly complex situations. He also highlighted the approval of professional career recognition by the government team, fulfilling a long-standing request from the force.
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