Orihuela’s local police force is running on empty – and tempers are boiling over at Town Hall. In just two years under the PP-Vox coalition government, the number of Local Police officers has dropped from 154 to 150, while 17 posts remain mysteriously frozen in recruitment limbo.
At the centre of the storm is Commissioner José María Pomares, who’s been sounding the alarm for months. He claims the city’s recruitment list has been “paralysed since December”, and key positions – including 11 agents, 3 officers, 2 inspectors, and 1 senior commander – have gone unfilled.
The coastal community, where crime has spiked with reports of gun violence and even a kidnapping, is furious. Locals are demanding more patrols, extended reporting hours, and even drones and CCTV to tackle what they call an “out-of-control crime wave.”
One group, Unidos por la Costa, didn’t mince their words:
“It’s not complicated—attention, effort, and funding. We need more police presence, better equipment, and real action.”
Chaos in Command
But as Orihuela’s police face staffing shortages, internal chaos is also raging. The recent shuttering of a police outpost in Rabaloche added fuel to the fire. Pomares, just weeks from forced retirement, closed the facility without authorisation, prompting an immediate backlash.
City Councillor Mónica Pastor, who oversees security, ordered the outpost reopened and accused the commissioner of “overstepping his authority.” By law, only the council can shut municipal facilities—not the police chief.
Pastor fired back by reinstating signage and undoing Pomares’s quiet closure. The showdown turned bureaucratic when it emerged the police facility was operating without a legal rental contract. The City’s finance department had blocked payments, citing lack of documentation, pre-approval, or legal standing.
Pomares, defending the continued use of the office, warned of “unjust enrichment” by the city if it failed to pay the bill for services already rendered. But ironically, he then advised officials to cease using the property until the legal mess is sorted, fearing personal legal risk.
Retirement Drama & Legal Battles
This isn’t just about boots on the ground—it’s also personal. Pomares, 64, is fighting his forced retirement, which he says is premature. He’s filed multiple appeals and even took a swing at the €400,000 annual budget for top council positions, submitting a challenge for one himself.
Pomares’s departure is looming—September 18 marks his last day—but he’s not going quietly. He’s already labelled the council’s retirement process a “guirigay” (Spanish for circus), and signalled he may take the fight to court.
Crisis Summary
- 4 officers lost under PP-Vox government since 2022.
- 17 police vacancies unfilled due to administrative “paralysis.”
- Locals demand more patrols as crime skyrockets on the coast.
- Police outpost shut down and reopened amid political drama.
- Top cop battles forced retirement, lashes out at council mismanagement.
- Contract chaos over rented office space threatens to derail operations.
Bottom line? Orihuela’s police aren’t just low on numbers—they’re caught in the crossfire of a political shootout.
