It now seems that the mayor of Torrevieja, Jose Manuel Dolon (Los Verdes), chose to ignore a Police report prepared by Police operation officer Vicente Gutiérrez, and delivered to him two months before the start of La Vuelta Stage 9, in which it was stated that the City had enough policemen to ensure the safe passage of cyclists competing in the Tour of Spain, through Torrevieja, on Sunday, August 27.
The police chief added that the commitment could also be met without considering the payment of any overtime.
However the mayor disregarded the report stating that, in his opinion, a total of 53 officers would be required to see the race pass safely through the city. As a result of his concerns, he then took the decision to re-route the stage along the N-332 which he said enabled the police to carry on with their ordinary and essential services, of providing security for members of the public.
Torrevieja’s Local Police Chief, Óscar Cartón, also contradicted the mayor’s argument saying that, in his opinion, police could have given security guarantees to the race. “From my point of view,” said the Police Inspector, “I think there were enough policemen, who, with support from Civil Protection and La Vuelta organisation themselves, could have managed quite well. However the final decision was not a police matter.”
The mayor’s decision also attracted fierce criticism from both the Provincial President, César Sánchez (PP), and the Provincial Deputy for Tourism, Eduardo Dolón.
