FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE POLICE IN CANARY FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE POLICE IN CANARY
(1898-1998).
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Article by Jesus Nunez and published in the Weekly Supplement to La Prensa Newspaper "THE DAY" on March 28, 1998.
Newspaper "THE DAY." Buenos Aires Avda No 71. Santa Cruz de Tenerife - 38,005. Spain. Phone: 922-238300. Fax: 922-213834.
its origins.
The, 1898 was not for the Civil Guard only the year of "disaster" but also of empowerment and confirmation as the first police force deployed around the country. Thanks As a result, the Meritorious it would set up a hundred years ago in the then province of the Canary Islands.
The increase its workforce by 3,461 men in the budget of the Ministry of War for the fiscal year 1898-99 would allow the adoption of a new and major reorganization of Thirds, Commands, Centers and Units of the Institute of Civil Guard, coming then to reach a total of 18,970 components.
So while the last change to the numbering of the Meritorious Thirds of Overseas (19 º, 20 º and 21 º for Cuba, 22 º that of Puerto Rico and 23 º, 24 º and 25 º of the Philippines) as a result of the creation of two new on the mainland, provided for the establishment of a Commander in the Canary Islands and a square section in Ceuta. On July 1, 1898 a royal order was pronounced circular section of Staff and Campaign of the Ministry of War in paragraph 3 which provided for the creation of the Command of the Canary Islands. So the Queen Regent, on behalf of her son King Alfonso XIII formally approved a proposal submitted ten days before the Director General of the Guardia Civil to MOFTEC.
This unit, would constitute exempt as the existing one on the Balearic Islands and is organized from Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the basis of the Company and Section Provincial Guard mounted.
your organization.
The staff of the new Command would set up residence in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then capital of the province and the head of his only company is established in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The staff of the Commander, classified as category 3, would be constituted by 1 Chief (1 Commander), 6 Officers (2 Captains and 2 First 2 Second Lieutenants and Lieutenants) and 140 troops, of which 110 would be infantry (6 sergeants, 15 Cabos, 2 Cornets, 11 and 76 Guards Guards First Second) and the remaining 30 cavalry (1 Sergeant, 3 Cabos Top 3 Guards Guards and 23 seconds).
Since the work that has been playing the Guard Provincial in our islands was similar to that entrusted to the Civil Guard in the rest of the country and was considered advantageous to pass the Meritorious Service Institute of the said force, was authorized by another royal order of the same date, the voluntary membership of this body for this one-time, heading to headquarters Canary Islands of the sergeants, corporals, Bugles and guards of that Provincial Guard.
As the only requirement was imposed to undergo a preliminary examination to assess their knowledge of the Civil Guard regulations and meet the legally established psychophysical conditions of entry with the exception of height and that members Provincial Guard, under its rules of 9 March 1896 were only required a height of 1 meter and 647 mm in front of one meter and 667 mm that was required then the Meritorious. Once organized the new Command and replaced by another force in accordance with the rules prevented for such cases in the Royal Decree of February 10, 1886, proceeded to the dissolution of the Provincial Guard expressed, causing low in it all his staff for going where the Civil Guard and other units of the Army or its defect being in the military situation for their delivery.
All costs incurred by the Section drop affects Cavalry Command would apply initially to the appropriation for the Provincial Guard, forming a separate statement until they could be included in the relevant chapter of the budget for the next fiscal year.
cattle in the mounted section Guards Provincial became part of the Section of Civil Guard cavalry, for which the back of the Distinguished Institute had to pay the Cavalry of the value of each horse in costs and expenses, net of amounts that had been previously entered, at 100 pesetas per year per horse troop, since he was five years old.
His first controls.
to the command on the Command was appointed by royal order of July 6, 1898 the Commander FRANCISCO FENECH AND CORDONIER, to then be able to replace in the second region ..
On that same date was used as Deputy Chief and resident also in Santa Cruz de Tenerife JOLI Captain Francisco Mateos, for promotion from the Commander of Castellón.
In the same order would made the Chief of the only Company based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria MIGUEL OLIVER Captain fellow Ferus, by promotion from the Commander of Valencia.
also the same day went to First Lieutenant and ALFREDO FERMIN Lahuerta AMARE PORCAR LLEO, both by promotion from the Commander of the Balearic Islands, the latter corresponding to the command of the cavalry section. The rest of the template would be completed with staff from other Commands of the rest of the country and even from overseas that will soon be dissolved as a result of "Disaster." In fact in the Summary of Services of the Guardia Civil (historical background of the current Official Gazette of the body) in his No. 424 dated June 24, 1898 was published a provision that the Heads of Command should refer to the Bureau 2 of the Directorate General of the Institute, a list of names of classes and individuals wishing to join ranks of command of the Canary Islands, if your organization as well decreed was a few days later.
Conclusions.
These would be the origins and beginnings, and centennial of the Civil Guard in the Canaries, with over half a century of lagging behind that of the Peninsula soon show the reason for the nickname of "Meritorious." Sign
proof was among others the exemplary behavior of Cape FELIX VICENTE PLAZA, Post Commander Valverde with his command forces assisted the Tayvique neighbors on the island of Hierro during an epidemic was declared variolosa in the second fortnight of December 1898, with many humanitarian services. Also opened a subscription to serve food and medicine for those affected.
A century later, with its 100 years of Serbian and constant sacrifice, the Civil Guard continues to watch day and night for the inhabitants of the Canary Islands
