Third of Torrox Local Police is off sick

DISCIPLINARY proceedings have been opened against a third of Torrox Local Police force for taking sick leave unnecessarily.

So far this year, 10 of the 31 officers in the force have had reports brought against them for claiming to have medical problems or disobeying their superiors.

The Mayor, Francisco Muñoz has ordered an investigation into the sick notes to try to control the situation, as “it costs the town money to maintain the police force.”

Muñoz has requested the cooperation of the insurance company, work inspectors and the Andalucian Health Service to learn the true state of health of the officers who have been on leave.

Only two are still on sick leave.

The mayor says he will do “everything within his reach” to make sure the officers perform their duties.

There have been problems of this kind in the force over the past five years, and on several occasions, such as Christmas 2007 or the October fair in 2010, there have been no officers at all on duty.

Most of this is caused by conflict between part of the force, affiliated to the police union, and the current chief Jose Roque.

Back in September, one officer was suspended without pay for going to Barcelona to see a football match when he should have been on duty.

The union defended he was entitled to the time because of the duties for the syndicate he performed in his free time.

Meanwhile, the Local Police have been questioned for removing a vehicle parked on the pavement but later returning it to the owner with no charge saying it had only been removed so local celebrations could be held.

The police took photos of the vehicle on the pavement and the report has signs of having been changed.

The mayor defends it could have been a simple mistake.

By Jennifer Leighfield