For Francisco Javier Teran Reyes. Approaching the issue
Many are the names linked to the body over time. Some know them by the
Rod Holders [1] by executioners or Marshals
[2] , citizen militias or Municipal Guard, others however will know by the Serious or the Guardia de la Porra. But no doubt from years ago these bodies has always been linked to the history of Tarifa, to his life and his environment, because these men were the carriers to ensure our safety, as well as connoisseurs of endless anecdotes occurred Tarifa in life itself. There was already
Municipal Police Rate, as reflected in that first our city council held inside the castle, in March 1592. But I will not go that far, but I will focus on the past century, telling anecdotes and stories to put in up to the municipal body.
The origin of our municipal police We could say that the word sheriff is the origin of the municipal police. No doubt the sheriff was a character with a large public presence in urban areas for many years until very recently still, in that technological development has greatly affected its importance to even make them disappear, despite that the functions traditionally performed remain valid still, in some cases handled by other professionals.
was in charge of serving on the streets, conducting rounds in the city, to obey and enforce the edicts and ordinances to approve the City Council.
If the bailiffs have to distinguish that within the judicial organization were responsible for executing the orders of judges and clerks, of which depending on local government dealing with various tasks under the orders of the mayors. Marshals
[3] whose duties were to "protect people and property throughout launch and event" and "avoid going early, the disorder, quarrels and troubles of all kinds is on the streets and squares, as in taverns and other places. They were also required to "monitor all behave with self-restraint of a cultured people, without causing the ways and voices, discomfort and inconvenience to residents. "
Before owning the gun and sword carried by the municipal police, these deputies were helping a rattan cane that worked a valuable aid in achieving these objectives.
also had to "prevent children under 15 walk wandering the streets and squares after the call to prayer, as well as during the day, these children entertain themselves in sheets and card games or ball in the points who are banned, the stone-throwing cry and ask for baptisms "also had to" pick up and put in the respective schools for children to walk wandering the streets during school hours.
His duties also included from passing notices of "a general or particular municipality, attend to third during the event and be ready for anything that might happen" to communicate citations to trials, making the sweepers are constantly clean public places and avoid the application on the streets and doors of temples and houses.
will be prohibited leave the village without permission from the mayor and enter "at the taverns, cafes and liquor store not being in the service of their duties."
Their pay as almost all the local administration was lower than other similar professional qualification and deepened its decline since early last century with the launch of the municipal guard.
In the last century, there are many more data on the city. And displayed with reference to its presence in all the pages that make up our local history. For me, as I say, the true story of Tarifa, which gives meaning and identity to our city.
So, when the visit of King Alfonso XIII to our city
[4] on March 6, 1909, along with other bodies
[5] , there was present the municipal police. And when she visited - "The general also Vives
[6] , in 1925, and General Primo de Rivera.
precisely in that same year at the newspaper's former Press Union
rate [7] , collect the following information: "Municipal Police, also joined in the place known as Pedro Valiente, to do errands made the landing because of bad weather, airplane num.30 Breguet, which was heading to Seville Tetuan. This unit had been occupied by the pilot Captain Mr. Martin Captain Brad and the observer Mr. Estevez, both of Tablada airfield. " Our
Municipal Guard could be linked to the National Military
by the year 1836 will appear when the call data National Militia, which, if true, it was not the Municipal Police, if he was quite connected with the city, as evidenced City Commission
agreement [8] first year of 1837, which says flatly: "The City Council agreed to proceed to the formation of the National Militia, with compliance and under the foundations established by decree of the Courts of 28 November 1836. "
On the other hand, 5 months later on July 20 of that year 37 is said
"Royal Order of July 5 by which Her Majesty is served stating that the National Military Command of the reason of being a permanent institution Civil corresponds to the local civil authorities, therefore can not be sent the militia, but by mayors. "
Then, in City Council November 8, 1868, shows the data for approval of accounts, an amount of a purchase of rifles for the Citizen Militia (not national, but citizenship) and therefore the agreement is taken to free a actual amount of 260, under the chapter of Contingencies.
Thus, little by little eventually forging an affinity in the current Municipal Police.
Later, a certain year 1869, appear in our councils, the name Citizen Volunteer Force, which while not exactly be the municipal police, if they have some direct link with the City.
A year later, on November 12 1870 upload real agreed to the salary of the municipal guards. "There already appears policeman. And the March 24, 1871 takes the following resolution: "Considering the need to provide municipal guards a weapon for the case where it needs to be addressed in any crowd, as the sable, the only weapon they have, they are placed disadvantaged. Therefore agreed to provide the aforementioned strength of a revolver. "
A Box for Municipal
And finally be time to rate the body of the policeman, have a box to act accordingly.
is in session [9] of December 19, 1874, when Mayor D. José Martínez Gallardo, accounts have leased in the driveway, an accessory to the Municipal Box, for a price of 23 reais a month. Is the current establishment is now a coffee shop called Catch, referring to his former home.
Box to cover where the shop was Juan Villalta that was before you had met this gentleman and many Tarifeño few feet above, where he remained until the late 70's. This box is that many will recall, at the time of lost property office. And it is the less interesting, things that we left we lost Tarifa. There was deposited a lot of berets, crutches, dentures and even occasional live pig.
always present in history Tarifa Over time, the Municipal Police of Tarifa has been present throughout the incident, in good times and less good of our city, and even said that they were more direct and closer in its treatment, as they were in charge of ensuring our public safety among other duties.
To name a few things, where the local police has been present, might remember an earthquake in 1755 and another in April 1773, also in several furled and floods, as that famous of that Tuesday, 13 January 1970 and the latter of December 24, 2009. Then there was also the Municipal Police. Also, and of course all the festivals celebrated in the city. Festivities in honor of San Mateo, San Hiscius and the Virgen de la Luz, all patterns of Tarifa.
When Queen Elizabeth II gives her a mantle of the Virgin of Light
[10] The chronicle of that date says: "I opened the march policeman
[11] ."
There are many nice stories old and there are some who would like to have:
On one occasion, the municipal police of Tarifa, seize 16 Kilos of bread from a baker, and sell to underweight.
Baker, of course, overwhelmed and a little afraid of what was coming, he tells the guard:
- Look Mr. Guardia,! that I have 7 children.
- Nothing, nothing! is seized, - said the guard
- No matter, the law is the law
- But Mr. Guardia, if not so serious, what is lacking total is 100 grams in Kilo!
press also reviewing old chronicles of the last century, I find the fact that a certain June 12, 1875, the City agrees to increase the salary of 5 pesetas Facinas Sheriff to supplement to a daily peseta, ie having a wage of 5 dollars a month and thereafter, the Sheriff began winning Facinas 6 dollars a month. Stories
life itself Of course there are many amusing anecdotes about the municipal police. Another of it is: When in a bullfight
[12] held in Tarifa, on the presidential balcony was such a brawl mayor then smashed a chair on the hat of President of the run, and the local police chief, also started helping the mayor to give Smite right and left, to the end, instead of going all arrested, end up taking Drinking both President of the run, the mayor and the municipal police chief.
Since at that time did not exist in Tarifa, and Civil Protection, no Red Cross, or Fire, the policeman had to be in every earthquake that had - as I said before, all fire and especially in any Riada.
fact, there were, in one of these floods that hit our city, March 6, 1917. Riada been produced by the tunnel clogged with sediment and branches of land the main avenue of the stream, and that was when the water came as more than two centuries old told reporters then - compared with the January 9, 1740 - "In the City and have dominion over the whole party Glen ago, flooding the Charity Hospital and Nursing Home, where not a few had perished, if not for the selfless heroism of several men who, with the water to the waist, in the dark of night, they overcame the moans of pain and distress, facing the circumstances and saving them from certain death. "Nothing so noble as the sacrifice for others!. And if you
abasement in search of the false tinsel, other increases in the loftiness of duty fulfilled. "
It was one of the heroes of that story, the deputy head of the Municipal Guard, then, Don Juan Alba Campos, for which action he was awarded the Cross of the charity.
In the weekly "Joining Fee", dated August 22, 1925, was collected and the news:
"Sunday 16 at one pm in the Assembly Room of our Chapter House, was celebrated the act of be imposed by the mayor, Benza Jose Perez, Cross first class of the Civil Order of Charity, paid for by public subscription, the deputy head of the Municipal Guard, our good friend d. Juan Alba Campos, which was given to him on 26 of the past March 1925 for his heroic behavior when the flood of March 6, 1917, who saved from certain death to the elderly inmates in the hospital.
The solemn ceremony was also attended by Mayor Mr. Benza, the editor d. Carlos Nuñez Manso, councilors, all the Municipal Guard with his head in front numerosísimo Mr. Beltran and public. Therefore
was handed to Mr. Alba of that Cross, as an artistic scroll also recalling the heroic deeds. "
was then, from that fact and the same date, the policeman - a which incidentally, was called "The Serious" - shows off a new and colorful uniform.
This means that in the same press and signed by "Calaínos" appear these lines:
THE serious progress
HUGE STEP VAN WITH STAINS AND NO BROKEN OR HAVE RAGS NOW Debuts New
UNIFORMS AND A HELMET BRAND NEW, AND ARE TO cute!
PRESTIGE SOLO LIVE
UNIFORM AND THAT, DOES IT WORKS WITH WHOM WILL YOU WEAR
NOW KNOWN, BY AND LOOK UNDER
GUARD SERVICE NEW
recently was PRIZE (and praised him,
BUT TOO LATE TO MY UNDERSTANDING)
THE HEROIC CONDUCATA who worked on the Cape
A SACRIFICE WHEN DUTY I demanded.
HONORED WITH THAT TRIBUTE TO THE CITY
VELA, AND IT IS JUST BY THE CITY POLICE
THESE RULES MUST CHECK THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ROUTE
, fairer and healthier.
THE NEW UNIFORM, BEAUTIFUL AND BRAND NEW
PROTECT THE NEW PERSONALITY OF JEALOUS Gaurdian, TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE THAN
esteem and respect throughout the city. Sure
generation 50 years ago, recalled to the municipal police - the local police, as less "serious." And surely recall, when jugabais ball on the Alameda, a ball is by the way, made of paper and tied with ropes. When it appeared one had to leave town "beeping" and leave the ball on the makeshift stage. But the children of the time screaming.
- What is a Bulletin!
- Who is it? - Questions
- Gonzalo, who had warned answered.
- And everyone said, keep playing, is Gonzalo!. And the good
Gonzalo approached, slow, quiet, and say: Do not play here, you're going to break a lamp post and I intend to do harm. Take a candy and beware. And Gonzalo, continued his round.
Needless to say, that the small fry was then forward it appeared Gonzalo any corner.
And it of course, back then there were more and less serious city. No doubt that after the Holy Angel Custodian - The pattern of the municipal police was Gonzalo Peinado.
Of course the city police has now shifted, from March 1989 to have become weapons-that is, to change this club filled with sand and sabers, and stir-and horses, which also was, by trained dogs and Walqui talqui nissan patrol. Sanctions
old and friendly separate chapter is one of the fines. Researching in the municipal archives of Tarifa, I could find regarding various fines that are less curious and worthy of mention.
On July 27, 1945 the policeman twenty-five pesetas to fine a resident of this city, because the dog circulating owned the last 25 of the 20 hours in the street without using the stated in the Mayoral Proclamation of dogs into force.
On October 20, 1949 something very strange happens these days, but in those, a little further away, it was still the "daily bread." So denouncing the abandonment of a pig by the public road and parking supply Facinas village. But it is curious as a record of municipal Guard after not fine, is expressed very clearly leaving had no choice:
translate literally: "I have the honor to inform you that, having drawn attention to the neighbor this village ... .. repeatedly found to have pork in your property and disturbing public via the square of supply of the village, aber so I made him vece as he found to have committed an infringement in Quesada forced to shut him up, but since it does pexar has complied with the orders.
notify you of order that imposed the sanction to be good enough for him to fulfill the orders. God keep you
many years. Facinas
October 20, 1949 "
The rogue has always existed. The rogue has always existed and will persist. From the old holy card scam (faithfully reproduced by master Tony Leblanc), passing through the hospital on the silly, until the modern and current phishing in which new technologies are used
As early as 1959, 4 August, sr. Veterinary complaint to an establishment for selling adulterated milk, as it had a 20% water. So you'll be fine with fifty pesetas.
Years later, it seems that this fine is not cleat in the population. And so we find the case fine, this time with hundred pesetas for selling watered-down milk, but it's not 20% but is 50% on July 24, 1962 in Wholesale Market Street. ( Notary Record AMT collected by Ochoa, Antonio).
One such January 25, 1960 is given another penalty, this time smaller but these are not that must pay, but his parents, who have the duty to pay ten pesetas for engaging his youngest son to disturb the neighbors in her house and throwing stones at the 20 th of current month.
On March 20, 1962 contains a complaint with the Municipal Police of a neighbor of Tarifa, a resident of the slope of Salguero claiming that on 12 March of that year, went into his garden four children begging for water for drinking, while some drinking, others entered the house and took four pigeons and a flashlight and ran leaving behind a basket they carried.
But that is not the thing:
It had been found that carrying the basket and had abandoned, had been stolen in the old tile Francisco Trujillo, and he bolted out of the Garden of Trivedi, one of the boys returned to the village, but the first three left in the direction of the farm of D. Juan Villoslada and the house where the landlord lives Salvador Marquez Silva, entering in the house by forcing the lock, taking several eggs from the hen, from there they went to the Rock, where the neighboring Francisca Perez Serrano, offered to sell a watch wrist, which had subsequently stolen trade Villanueva House. But there still is not the thing, while making the sale, was killed about four bucks a kilo each. Then followed
site called Pedro Valiente, where the farm Mariano Vinuesa, turned to remove eggs from hens and ran, but the landlord had realized that overtook them and recovered the stolen, realizing that also carried a skillet and rabbit meat home. Finally we found out later that they had stolen several rabbits at the farm of Squire.
In a 28 October 1963 reflected a measure made by the Municipal Police to impose fifty pesetas to leave the truck parked in the CA-34 212 street, bloody water flowing out of the fish he was carrying, with the resulting odor. This would occur in the Calle Fuente Nueva number 7. (And the note puts Algeciras).
In the old press
And to conclude cite case and entertaining strangers, gathered again in the local weekly newspaper of Tarifa Tarifa the Union in 1925.
In the section "Events", found in August 1925, several news titled:
These chickens!
Some peaceful inhabitants of the streets of Columbus do not like the crowing or cockfight, we claim that a certain neighbor of that street without the slightest hesitation, take in the morning to it owns the chickens, believed likely that the alley is a field, but not operations, or the whole mountain is oregano, if such creatures feathered looking for life as best they can peck from here and there.
Other cases bizarre events section refers to a fall, a brawl or scams hits from back then.
A Fall went up the ladder that leads to the Plaza Alfonso XII, Sebastiana C. Keys Muñoz residing in that place, suffering a fracture of the lower third of the left fibula, being assisted by Dr. Alvarez. Tiff
Field In the place known Arraez Gonzalez "Guadalmesí near this place, quarreled on the night of Monday the residents of that camp table and Joaquín Juan Muñoz Diaz Gonzalez. The first one inferred
Joaquin cut in the face with a knife, and the latter attacked John with a stick, causing him head injuries.
Both were cared for in this, by the physician Linan M. Alvarez, Joaquin Diaz at home and the other in the Municipal Hospital, qualifying injuries to two of prognosis.
According to findings made, the brawl was triggered by some of Juan Muñoz horses grazing in the field of his adversary, but also assure us that among those neighbors were old resentments.
the case went to Municipal Court.
a stone
Being in the afternoon of Tuesday the boys Antonio Guzmán Cana 19 and Manuel Fernández Casas 16, throwing stones at the Paseo de la Alameda, one of them was to give the neighbor Francisco Ortiz del Pino 67-year-old, who was one of the banks of the said tour. Taken to Hospital
Francisco Ortiz was cured by the practitioner Mr. Benitez a contusion of 4 inches of extension in the right frontal region and superficial erosions in the region left of prognosis. For
again refrain from throwing stones in a public park, entered the jail the young men and Manuel Antonio.
Already in September, one such day 19 are in the section "Press Releases Municipal" a very nice story, which sharpens the wit and aje Tarifa. It reads:
Municipal Guard Found by a pig in the middle of Causeway was walking peacefully on the basis that every living creature has the right to life, he was fined two pesetas, which should not notice the owner had to pay because the animal was not wearing loose in the pocket.
also the owner of three horses who went into the street from Our Lady of Light, had to pay for the same reason five pesetas few hard cash.
for the month of October, one such day 3 in this section of the 1925 Municipal Gacetillas found the following information regarding this picaresque Tarifa again, but this time not only sanctioned, but also is distributed among the poor seized.
In the past week confiscated two kilos is fifty bakers of bread for lack of weight, which were distributed among the poor.
The September 13 reads:
On days four and five of this month, were operated by the local chief of police the sum of forty quarts of milk adulterated. The 40 quarts of milk entered the Charity Hospital and Nursing Home.
In "The City" of this can be found weekly in January 1927 and the following story:
Nickel Coins 25 cents
For the mayor have been notices in the usual place, under that several establishments were not supported the currency of 25 cents nickel marketed by RD January 9, 1925, claiming some that are false and others that had ceased to be current.
In this edict it is noted that the currency has lost its value, being forced to admit in public banks and establishments, to warn those who do not admit that this is considered a serious offense punishable by imprisonment of one to ten days or a fine of five to fifty pesetas.
And finally another event worthy of comment collected and found in an ephemeris of the 1930 release of Tarifa, where the policeman was present, was: This news
two dozen workers laid off by the construction of port. (Remind you that the port of Tarifa auction was held at 12 am on March 7, 1925, the Ministry of Development). And it is seen, at that time there was also a crisis, and so many workers were laid off from the port, only one was left to the family. This caused a small strike and there was a case of one of the first modern attempts at Tarifa, coincidence or accident?, I mean the placement of a pump, a device well suited. In particular was very close to the house of one of the employees of the port. And of course, many thought that it was revenge of those dismissed.
Whatever the case, there is no doubt that this old policeman, more serious or less serious, had enough because of the historical mark of our city. Thus, these lines are worth, as a small tribute, so many men and women who no doubt are watching the wake and, as a guardian angel for the proper functioning of our beautiful city. REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHIES
- Archive municipality of Tarifa. Folders loose fines.
- Archive Official Chronicler's particular rate Gil Jesus Teran.
- Excerpts from the first proclamation of the local police from Tarifa to October 1, 1990, written by Gil Jesus Teran.
- Terán Gil, Jesus. "Book of Churches of Tarifa. (Book direct with the description of Churches in Tarifa, seconded bibliographically, among other books, archives and documentary collections of the Churches of San Mateo and San Francisco.)
- Terán Gil, Jesus. "Book number 12." (Books where collected daily and all events occurred in local chronicles rate since 1980-2007).
[1] Rod The porters were, so to call them, the right hand of the mayors of El Barrio, as they were in charge of guard duty in their barracks and accompany them in the rounds that they entered the city.
[2] essential component to carry out the functions of security, surveillance and enforcement of regulations, as they would be responsible for making the rounds on the streets
[3] original manuscript of Don José Abreu Manso dated April 25, 1898 that I keep in my particular file.
[4] TERÁN GIL, Jesus: "Visit of His Majesty Don Alfonso XIII to Tarifa and Segorbe Hunters Battalion" Aljaranda 40, (2001), 33-35
[5] http://baluarte-tarifa.blogspot.com/2008/04/alfonso-xiii-en-tarifa.html
[6] TERÁN REYES, Francisco Javier: "Our port and our beloved adopted son and Pedro Vives" Aljaranda 71, (2009) 28-34.
[7] On Saturday November 15, 1924 hit the streets for the first time the weekly Union of Tarifa, which was a newspaper that for eleven years of the press filled a void in our city itself.
[8] Rate Municipal Archives (AMT) Chapter Acts. Chapter of February 1, 1837.
[9] AMT. Chapter records. Cabildo December 19 1874.
[10] TERÁN GIL, Jesus, "Historical notes on the Patron Tarifeño" Aljaranda 10 (1993) 14-19.
[11] TERÁN GIL, Jesus: "Our Lady of Light: the patron southernmost of Europe." Editors, Fee: Department of Culture, 2000Año Published: 2000País: EspañaIdioma: EspañolISBN: 84-930205-2-4
[12] TERÁN GIL, Jesus: "Our arena and the fiftieth anniversary of the festival Ordóñez" Aljaranda 60 (2006) 28-30
By Francisco Javier Teran Reyes. 
For 
