The morning sun glinted off polished badges and the determined faces of over 1,900 police officers as they marched through the heart of Mexico City this past Sunday. From the iconic Angel of Independence to the majestic Monument to the Revolution, the fifth annual Commemorative Parade for Police Day unfolded, a vibrant testament to the dedication and sacrifice of the city’s law enforcement.
A City’s Gratitude: The Parade of Heroes
The air buzzed with the rhythmic beat of the war band, a prelude to the impressive display of discipline and training. Various units of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), including the Banking and Industrial Police (PBI), Auxiliary Police, Traffic Police, and the Investigative Police (PDI) from the Attorney General’s Office, proudly showcased their capabilities. Patrolling vehicles, motorcycle patrols, K9 units, and even mounted police units added to the spectacle, drawing cheers and applause from thousands of families and tourists lining the streets.
While every officer received appreciation, the members of the Heroic Fire Department and the ambulances of the Emergency and Rescue Squad (ERUM) garnered the loudest ovations. Citizens, many with phones raised to capture the moment, expressed their admiration and gratitude for those who stand on the front lines of public safety.
Voices of Dedication: Leadership and Recognition
Before the parade commenced, Pablo Vázquez Camacho, head of the SSC-CDMX, eloquently underscored the profound vocation of the police force. He emphasized that every act of service is a demonstration of their love for the city, a daily struggle to build peace and justice. “Those who have chosen the path of violence know that against them, the CDMX police is an insurmountable barrier that protects its citizens,” Vázquez Camacho declared, adding, “The deepest and most transcendent meaning of being a police officer materializes in the girls and boys, in the women, families, and young people who live free from the yoke of violence.”
A poignant moment arrived with the recognition of Edgar Pacheco of the PBI as ‘Police Officer of the Year’. His heroism on February 6, when he thwarted a cargo truck robbery on the Mexico-Querétaro Highway, facing down armed assailants who opened fire, served as a powerful reminder of the dangers and bravery inherent in their profession.
Behind the Badge: Families’ Unseen Struggles
Yet, behind the parades and accolades, lies a less visible reality: the constant worry etched on the faces of police families. María Elena, mother to two Auxiliary Police officers, aged 26 and 27, articulated this profound concern. While acknowledging the public’s distrust of security forces due to corruption, she expressed immense pride that her sons belong to the ‘80%’ of officers genuinely committed to protecting the community.
Her greatest challenge, she confided to 88.9 Noticias, is the unending anxiety, especially when her sons are deployed to protests where violent groups like the ‘Black Bloc’ appear. “Worries every day about whether they will return or not, because they work to take care of people,” she shared, her voice tinged with emotion. “The feminist marches, all of that, they have taken them, and sometimes they come back beaten, injured in their legs, hands, back, because things are thrown at them.” She appealed to the Head of Government of CDMX, Clara Brugada, to grant officers more authority to act in extreme situations.
Beatriz, married to an officer from the ‘Gladiadores’ group, echoed similar sentiments. She recounted how her husband can be absent for entire days during special operations. A chilling memory resurfaced when her husband narrowly escaped death during an incident in Tláhuac. “When he was in the Tláhuac area, there was a robbery, and catching the thieves, he told me, ‘the thief’s weapon jammed, and well, for some reason, when God tells us it’s enough,’ the gun jammed, and they couldn’t shoot him,” she recalled, a shiver in her voice.
A Day of Unity and Respite
As the parade concluded, the solemnity gave way to celebration. Each police unit gathered with their families in designated tents along Paseo de la Reforma. Breakfasts were served, inflatable games brought laughter to children, and music filled the air, allowing families a few precious hours of dancing and togetherness. It was a moment of respite, a chance to reinforce the bonds that sustain them through the daily challenges of their demanding lives.
Source: https://889noticias.mx/noticias/cdmx-celebra-a-sus-policias-con-desfile-reconocimientos-y-convivencia-familiar/
