The Arona Local Police, situated in the southern part of Tenerife, apprehended two personnel from the Adae Civil Protection team during the morning. This Association for the Development and Emergency Actions appeared to be rather reluctant to fulfil their protective duties. Contrary to expectations, they were expected to be in uniform and assist their organisation during the Cookie Half Marathon. As reported by the Asipal-CSLA union on Instagram, the officers who stopped these civil protection personnel had to intervene when they observed how they were operating their vehicle (“appropriately marked”) and a motorcycle along the main TF-66 highway, close to the Aronera coastline and in proximity to the municipality of San Miguel de Abona.
According to the local police account, the pair were “prepared to cover the Cookie Half Marathon,” but their driving was labelled as “dangerous,” swerving at high speeds “in an erratic manner,” and performing zigzags, alongside inappropriate overtaking. Consequently, the officers halted them and requested their documentation, although the Civil Protection member on the motorcycle indicated that they were there for the sports event and were provided with the vehicle, but he admitted that he had never obtained a driving licence.
In light of this situation, the police initiated the necessary procedures for a crime against road safety (Article 384 of the current Criminal Code), which penalises individuals who drive without ever having held a licence or after being disqualified by a court ruling or total point loss.
On Instagram, the union remarked that the motorcyclist explained that the individual responsible for Adae Civil Protection was “aware that he lacked any form of driving licence” and yet “not only permitted him to operate the motorcycle but also encouraged him by saying that nothing would happen during the marathon.” For the Central, this highlights a lack of oversight and seriousness among the officials of Civil Protection in the Arona municipality. Additionally, the appropriate administrative complaints were filed “due to the illegal driving conduct exhibited”.
The account shared by the union on the social media platform garnered significant attention, with other officers not only commending the police action but also recalling that around a thousand runners participated in that half marathon, “thereby averting larger issues.” They also expressed their gratitude towards those “Civil Protection colleagues who perform vital work in collaboration with the local police of Arona during municipal events,” emphasising that the actions of the two individuals in question, along with their superior, should not reflect on all involved in emergency and civil protection activities.
The local government initiates an investigation to discern accountability
The Canary Islands’ local government has now requested an account from the local council (PP-CC-VOX) regarding the actions taken. The Department of Security indicated that, “given that the management of the volunteers solely belongs to Adae Civil Protection, which has an agreement with the City Council, once the facts were reported, the security division of the City of Arona has begun proceedings to open an investigation into ADAE, to identify and assess any potential violations committed, thus allowing for the resolution and determination of responsibility concerning these incidents.
