Orihuela 20 May 2025 – José María Pomares, Chief Commissioner of the Orihuela Local Police, has officially filed a complaint accusing Mayor Pepe Vegara and Councilor for Citizen Security Mónica Pastor of harassment and discrimination. The veteran officer claims the alleged mistreatment is causing him “helplessness and psychological damage that is difficult to repair.”
The complaint, submitted to Orihuela City Hall this morning, calls for an investigation into a series of actions that Pomares believes have been orchestrated to discredit him personally and professionally. He is invoking the municipal protocol for the prevention of harassment or discrimination, requesting that the matter be handled confidentially by the General Secretary until an independent committee is formed.
The conflict reportedly stems from the mayor’s decision just over a month ago to deny Pomares’ request to extend his service beyond retirement. Although Pomares filed an appeal for reconsideration and submitted complaints to various council offices, he claims the fallout has been a campaign of targeted hostility.
In his detailed complaint, Pomares alleges that he has been subjected to excessive scrutiny, threats of disciplinary action, and deprived of basic operational authority. “This threat, as well as the discrimination in the performance of my duties, leaves me defenseless,” he wrote. He also says he has been instructed on how to perform his duties without legal support, and with increasing administrative hurdles.
The commissioner describes various procedural irregularities, including being denied access to the municipal platform Gestiona, which prevents him from submitting required documentation. He also claims that fuel cards, normally managed by the Police Department, have been distributed directly to officers under Councilor Pastor’s direction—excluding his department and leaving one official police vehicle without a fuel card.
In addition, Pomares highlights what he calls selective oversight: only his and three other officers’ January work records were requested, despite a larger force under his command. He also notes he is being excluded from internal communication alerts, while key administrative responsibilities—such as scheduling—are being shifted from the Police Headquarters to Human Resources without proper coordination.
Adding to his grievances, Pomares says official orders with legal implications have been issued under the sole signatures of the mayor and Councilor Pastor, without technical endorsement from municipal legal staff. He also accuses the council of imposing stricter requirements on him alone, such as demanding vacation requests well in advance of legal deadlines—requests that remain unprocessed.
“These actions are degrading,” Pomares states in his complaint, “and whether due to personal animosity or institutional motives, they are being executed with clear malice and premeditation.”
As the situation unfolds, no member of the City Council, including the accused, will be allowed access to the complaint. The investigation is expected to remain under the purview of the General Secretary until a formal review committee is constituted.
City Hall has not yet issued a public response regarding the allegations.
