The Throne Room of the Autonomous Palace of Ceuta was filled this Monday with family, friends and authorities to accompany the 15 new officers joining the Local Police. The ceremony, marked by nerves, emotion, and a few unexpected moments, marked the end of a period of intense effort for those who have just secured their positions.
With the awarding of diplomas and the taking of office, these men and women become part of a fundamental body for security and coexistence in the autonomous city. The President of the City, Juan Vivas, wanted to emphasize that this is not just a ceremonial event, but the start of a professional career that, he said, “will mark their lives.”
Official reception in the Throne Room
The reception took place at the Throne Room of the Assembly PalaceThe hall is a regular venue for major institutional events in Ceuta. From before 11:00 a.m., the new police officers waited in formation, while dozens of family members and friends gathered at the back of the hall, watching every detail.
The event was chaired by President of the City, Juan VivasHe was accompanied by representatives of the local government, members of the Assembly, and local police commanders, including the chief and superintendent. The presence of these top officials reinforced the official nature of a day that many attendees described as "unforgettable."
During the ceremony, the following steps were taken: Delivery of certificates for the selective course and the diplomas certifying the completion of academic and practical training. Each officer was called by name to approach the presidential table, greet the authorities, and receive the document recognizing them as fully qualified new local police officers.
Among the names that have been heard in the hall were, among others, Aissa Sediri, Paula Alguacil, Javier Obispo, Jesús Atencia, Antonio Jesús Rodríguez, Jesús Iván Ortiz, Sergio Mantas, Luis Javier Guerrero, Ander Jiménez, José Félix López, Daniel Espinosa, Mohamed Mohamed, Sukaina Amar, Iván Galván and Chetan HareshThe diversity of personal trajectories has been mixed with a common goal: to start a professional career in service to Ceuta.
An event postponed due to the orange alert
The public presentation of these 15 new agents was initially scheduled for the previous Wednesday, coinciding with the swearing-in or affirmation of office. However, the activation of a orange alert due to storm It forced the postponement of the institutional ceremony, although the more strictly administrative part of the inauguration could be carried out.
Juan Vivas recalled this episode during his speech, highlighting that what happened is a clear example of what it entails. public serviceIn his opinion, the decision to postpone the ceremony for security reasons showed that, when the general interestAny other consideration must be relegated: "Duty must come before desire," he stressed to the attendees.
The president has indicated that the 15 officers are joining the force in a context where inclement weather and other risk situations They are part of the city's daily life. In that sense, he emphasized that the work of the Local Police is not limited to traffic control or maintaining urban order, but also involves a rapid response to emergencies that can directly affect the safety of residents.
The rescheduling of the event for this Monday has not diminished the solemnity of the day. Despite the rain and bad weather, the The Throne Room has filled up With over fifty people in attendance, who attentively followed each speech and each diploma presentation. For many, the adverse weather took a backseat to the significance of the moment.
A demanding and transparent selection process
During his speech, the president insisted that the new police officers had gotten this far because of their own meritsHe described the access process as a “demanding, clean and transparent” test, which required perseverance, sacrifice and a high level of preparation on the part of the applicants.
The 15 officers have passed a opposition with different phases, followed by a training course that has lasted for several months, after completing the Local Police requirementsThis training has combined theoretical and practical content, with a focus on the reality of police work at the local level and on the current regulations applicable to their daily work.
The training program has included a legal phase, focused on knowledge of laws, municipal ordinances and administrative procedures, and a police phase, focused on intervention techniques, action protocols, citizen security and collaboration with other security forces.
New this year are the following: self-defense classes The course consisted of 30 hours of instruction. Students learned self-defense techniques, distance control against potential assailants armed with knives or firearms, basic striking, throws, joint locks, immobilization techniques, ground controls, and police handcuffing procedures. The goal was to equip them with practical skills to enhance both their own safety and the safety of citizens in dangerous situations.
Vivas wanted to emphasize that this training program not only seeks to certify technical knowledge, but also to consolidate a professional culture based on responsibility and ethicsAccording to him, the combination of academic preparation and operational training is key to successfully fulfilling the roles they will assume from now on.
The role of families on the path to the square
A significant part of the president's speech focused on recognizing the families of the new agentsVivas recalled, from his own experience as a former candidate, that the emotional and practical support of loved ones is often crucial in a long, demanding process full of ups and downs.
During the ceremony, the proud looks, the barely contained nerves, and the emotion of the parents, partners, and children who surrounded the new graduates did not go unnoticed. Among them, the cases of veteran agents whose children follow in their footsteps, reinforcing a professional tradition that in some homes is lived almost as a family legacy.
This is the case, for example, of Gema Muriel, a local police officer for over two decades, who this Monday watched her son wearing the same dark blue uniform she has worn for 24 years. As she explained, it's gratifying for any parent when their children find job security, but the pride is multiplied when they choose the same profession.
A similar situation has been experienced by Pedro Espinosa, an officer with 26 years of service and current bodyguard of the president, whose son Daniel is the youngest in this graduating class. Father and son have even been able to to recreate a photograph taken years ago In that same room, when the new police officer was just a child. Now, both pose in the same uniform, in an image that graphically summarizes the generational shift within the force.
For many of these families, the ceremony has represented the culmination of months and even years of preparation...with personal sacrifices, hours of study, and moments of uncertainty. Hence, the atmosphere in the Throne Room combined institutional solemnity with a warm ambiance, complete with hugs, photographs, and displays of affection.
Functions and values of the Ceuta Local Police
Beyond the congratulations, Juan Vivas used his speech to remind everyone of the obligations assumed by any local police officerHe explained that faithfully fulfilling the duties of the position means providing an essential service for the well-being of the residents and the development of daily life in the city.
Among the tasks he mentioned are the collaboration with other state security forces and bodiesPublic order enforcement, traffic control, prevention of conflicts in public spaces, and responding to incidents that directly affect the peace and tranquility of citizens. He also emphasized the obligation to to help those in needwith special attention to those in situations of greater vulnerability.
The president has emphasized the mission of to ensure compliance with the law At the local level, this ranges from municipal ordinances to specific regulations. In his view, respect for the law is the cornerstone of democratic coexistence, social peace, individual freedom, and equality among all citizens, without discrimination of any kind.
Although he insisted he wasn't there to give lessons, Vivas listed a series of values that he considers essential For anyone dedicated to public service, and especially for those who are part of the Local Police: vocation of service, sense of duty, commitment to the general interest, discipline, approachability, dedication, professionalism, camaraderie, commitment and capacity for sacrifice.
A particularly noteworthy point in his message has been the Loyalty “with a capital L”The president clarified that this is not about loyalty to specific individuals, but to the institution, the Local Police Force, and above all, to the citizens they serve. For Vivas, this institutional and social loyalty is what gives meaning to the uniform and the authority it represents.
Proud to serve a “beautiful and magical” city
At several points during his speech, the president encouraged the new police officers to feel Proud to be Local Police officers and to carry out his work in Ceuta. He described the city as a place "with difficulties and risks", but also "beautiful and magical", with a citizenry that, in his words, has "coexistence in their hearts and love for Spain in their souls".
Vivas described it as a “privilege” to serve a city with these characteristics, marked by its diversity and strategic location. He maintained that, precisely because of these unique features, the role of the Local Police takes on an added dimension of responsibility and closeness to the community.
The president wished the new agents well. Health, luck, and professional success At this new stage, they were reminded that the greatest reward public service offers is not usually material, but rather the feeling of a "duty fulfilled" at the end of each day. This message was received attentively by those participating in the day's activities.
The faces of the newly recruited members showed a mixture of relief at having reached their goal and excitement for what lies ahead. Many of them are approaching this new stage as true long-term life project, in which they hope to consolidate a stable and at the same time useful trajectory for their city.
An unexpected moment: a marriage proposal in the middle of the act
The morning also produced a scene that broke protocol and drew applause from everyone present. One of the new officers, Jesus Ivan OrtizHe took advantage of the solemn setting of the ceremony to propose to his partner, Marina, just as they were posing for a photograph with the president and the rest of the authorities.
The young woman had gone to the Throne Room with a White dressShe was prepared to accompany her partner and the rest of her family, who are also connected to the police force, never imagining that she would end up becoming one of the day's protagonists. At the moment the photo was taken, the officer knelt down and asked her the question no one expected.
La affirmative answer Marina's gesture and Jesús Iván's actions elicited a resounding ovation from the audience, comprised of colleagues, family, friends, and institutional representatives. The hall, already charged with emotion for the induction of the 15 officers, erupted in applause and smiles, lending an even more personal touch to an otherwise institutional event.
This episode has added a human and personal element to a ceremony in which, in addition to the formal speeches, the [unclear] have played an important role. personal stories behind each uniformFor many attendees, the scene symbolized the simultaneous beginning of several life stages: the professional stage, in the case of the agents, and the family stage, in the case of the main couple.
After the engagement and the closing of the official ceremony, the Throne Room was transformed for a few minutes into a space of relaxed encounterThe day concluded with commemorative photos, hugs, and conversations between the families and the authorities present. The atmosphere was one of shared satisfaction among those who had witnessed the fulfillment of a long-sought goal.
With this reception, Ceuta formally incorporates 15 new agents into its Local Police after a demanding selection process, a complete training course and a ceremony that has combined institutional solemnity, recognition of effort and very personal emotional moments; a starting point for a career in which security, closeness to the residents and loyalty to the city will be at the center of their daily work.
