José Luis Santafé Arnedo Appointed as New Deputy Director of National Police Amid Controversy

The National Police has a new operational deputy director, José Luis Santafé Arnedo, appointed by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, this Friday, March 6. Santafé takes over as the highest authority of the corps, succeeding José Ángel González, who faced serious allegations of sexual abuse by a subordinate that became public on February 17. Previously, Santafé Arnedo served as chief commissioner and head of the Balearic Islands, marking a significant moment in his career as one of the 89 chief commissioners in the force—a stark contrast to the only 22 women in positions eligible for such a high rank. Following the public revelation of the abuse complaint on February 18, Gemma Barroso, the deputy director general of Human Resources and Training of the National Police, temporarily managed the DAO position as per regulations. Santafé Arnedo's journey in law enforcement began in 1990 when he joined the National Police academy as an executive scale student. Throughout his career, he has taken on various roles that focused on citizen security, judicial police, and immigration services, both in Madrid and the Balearic Islands. His career trajectory saw him rise through the ranks for over three decades. In 2005, he advanced to chief inspector, and seven years later, he was promoted to commissioner, assuming significant responsibilities within the superior commands of both the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. His ascent culminated in 2020 when he achieved the highest category within the corps after being appointed chief commissioner. In 2022, he took on the role of superior chief of Police in the Balearic Islands, a position he held until his recent appointment. As the newly appointed operational deputy director, Santafé faces the challenge of leading the National Police through a period marked by serious allegations against his predecessor and addressing the broader issues of gender representation within the force. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2