A local police officer in Torrevieja has lost his position after refusing to carry a firearm, citing his religious beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness. This decision came during a mandatory training course at the Valencian Institute of Public Safety and Emergencies, which he attended as part of a process to stabilise interim officers. He had previously expressed his unwillingness to take part in training related to firearms, leading to his exclusion from completing the necessary qualifications.

The stabilisation process, a requirement set by the European Union to eliminate temporary employment in public service, has been implemented across Spain. In Torrevieja, this procedure was delayed due to attempts by the municipality to exempt candidates from physical and psychological testing, although it has ultimately allowed many officers to achieve fixed positions.

Despite efforts by the course coordinators to accommodate his religious beliefs, the officer did not meet the requisite training standards. He previously served in the now-defunct Operational Reinforcement Group of the Local Police, dealing with security issues in the community. Following his withdrawal from the training course, the municipality has initiated steps to fill the vacant position left by the officer’s departure.

Significantly, the Local Police force now consists of approximately one hundred and eighty officers, an improvement that has been bolstered by the recent stabilisation of interim positions. For the first time in years, some patrol shifts are now supported by eight or nine police cars on the streets of Torrevieja, responding to the city’s growing population, which exceeds one hundred thousand residents, especially during peak holiday seasons.