The Cieza City Council's Police Department presented the new canine officer, named "Neo," at the Local Police headquarters, marking the return of the force's canine unit after two years out of service. The German Shepherd was adopted by one of the officers a year ago and has been trained during this time for the mission he began carrying out this week at the extraordinary checkpoints set up for the fair.
The presentation ceremony was attended by Mayor Tomás Rubio; Police Chief Jesús Castaño; and Councilors María Turpín, Animal Welfare, and Manuel Martínez. Also present was Chief Inspector María José Hernández.
Trainer and officer Javier Guardiola will be in charge of coordinating the new canine unit's operations; he will soon be joined by another police officer currently undergoing training in this field, according to Jesús Castaño. The canine unit was created by Antonio Buendía, a now-retired officer, in 2012. Its service was discontinued in 2021, primarily due to a shortage of officers, and it became inoperative.
Fixed Police Post in the Market Square
On another note, the event was used to announce the creation of a new advanced command post, which will be installed in the Plaza de Abastos (Basques Square) to bring "the presence of the Local Police closer to the citizens," Castaño stated. This service includes police presence during the fair and at other recreational and festive events throughout the year. The Police Councilor clarified that the goal is "to have a permanent force and vehicle in place within a short period of time." He also reported that a force has been deployed to provide service during the festivities around the La Era municipal field, where the so-called "Youth Zone" has been set up for these days.
The canine unit has proven to be of great help in the past
The mayor pointed out that "the canine unit has proven in the past to be of great help when carrying out interventions, both in environments used by young people (sometimes minors) who carry or consume prohibited substances, as well as in security controls and vehicle searches for suspected drug possession." For this reason, he welcomed the return of the service, "as it will represent an improvement in the already extraordinary work carried out by the Cieza Local Police."
Both Rubio and Castaño agreed that the launch of a canine unit "is included in the government agreement at the beginning of the term, which aims to improve the municipal body's daily operations and address ongoing requests."
The unit will not only perform security duties but is also likely to participate, if required, in socio-educational activities, prevention work around schools and institutes, deterrent services and inspections of educational centers and parks primarily due to suspicions of drug use or trafficking within them, searches of vehicles or premises and support in traffic controls, support for local police services involving body searches, collaboration with other law enforcement bodies and forces, etc.
Source: Cieza City Council.
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