LA LAGUNA (TENERIFE), 4 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Provincial National Police Headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife hosted a ceremony on Friday in La Laguna, led by the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, alongside the Chief of Police for the Canary Islands, Jesús María Gómez, to mark the day of ‘Los Angeles Custodios’, the patron saint of the National Police.
During this occasion, the General Order from the Minister of the Interior was announced, bestowing the Order of Police Merit on various officials from the National Police, the General Bodies of the State Administration, and personnel associated with the General Directorate of the Police, acknowledging their significant contributions that have enhanced the reputation of the National Police through their “exemplary” service.
As a result of this General Order, a total of 60 national police officers from various ranks were honoured, along with two officials from the General Corps of the General Administration of the State and seven individuals outside the police service who collaborated with the National Police, including the President of the Cabildo del Hierro and the insular director.
Among the 60 decorated national police officers, 17 received awards for specific actions, while the remainder were recognised for their professional careers within the National Police.
With regard to the specific actions, 16 crosses with a white badge were presented.
Of these, eight were bestowed for the commendable efforts of the agents during the migratory crisis affecting the Canary Islands, while two were awarded for involvement in an anti-narcotics operation conducted in collaboration with UDYCO Central, GRECO, and GOES, which resulted in the largest cocaine seizure in the province and impacted multiple cities across Spain.
Additionally, three of these medals were awarded for dismantling a criminal group involved in making fraudulent charges against the accounts of foreign tourists, utilising a network of shops in popular tourist areas in the southern part of the island, specifically targeting elderly visitors.
Furthermore, two officers received recognition for their swift actions that saved the lives of two individuals who experienced cardiorespiratory arrest, by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation manoeuvres, as stated in a report by the National Police.
DECORATED DEPUTY INSPECTOR RAÚL SANTAMARÍA
In addition, sub-inspector Raúl Santamaría Nicolás was awarded a white badge for his actions last Christmas Eve when, while off duty, he witnessed a driver stab another driver twice.
Due to Raúl’s prompt assistance, who applied pressure to the victim’s wounds until medical services arrived, the man was saved.
Another member of the national police force received the police merit cross with a red badge.
This decoration was granted to agent Patricia Suárez Escobar, who, while performing public safety duties, responded to a fire that spread through a building where an elderly woman with mobility issues was trapped inside her home and unable to evacuate.
Patricia risked her own safety, taking refuge on the terrace with the woman, and placed damp towels against the front door to minimise smoke inhalation.
At the conclusion of the event, a tribute was paid to those police officers who, through their dedication and commitment to service, sacrificed their lives for the protection of the citizens.
