Marlaska appoints José Santafé as new Police Operational Deputy Director: "Someone had to step up" after the scandal

The Interior Ministry has found a replacement for the hottest seat in the National Police. In record time and with the media spotlight still blazing from the eruption of the ex-DAO case, Fernando Grande-Marlaska has closed the crisis with a surgical move, though not without symbolism. The chosen one is José Santafé Arnedo, until now the senior chief of the Balearic Islands, a low-profile commander with his feet firmly planted in the day-to-day grind. But who is this man brought in to put out the fire? And more importantly, why did he accept the job when everyone knows it's a poisoned chalice?

A name for stability: José Santafé Arnedo

Forget the bright lights of Madrid. The new Operational Deputy Director was forged in the Islands. Literally. Santafé, a Madrid native born in 1965, joined the academy in 1990 and has since built a solid career, far from the whispers of the top brass. He's served as an inspector in Madrid, commissioner in the Canary Islands, and, since July 2022, the top officer in the Balearics. He's what they call within the force "one of our own," but genuinely so, not just a face from headquarters.

When asked whether the appointment warranted congratulations or condolences, he didn't hesitate: "Congratulations, always." With that blend of institutional loyalty and sense of duty that's becoming rare, he offered a telling phrase: "It's probably not the best time, it's a delicate moment, but in these situations, you have to step up; you can't stand on the sidelines." So, he knew what he was walking into and still took the call.

The ghost of the González case and Gemma Barroso's interim role

To understand the earthquake, you only need to rewind a few weeks. The previous DAO, José Ángel González, left through the back door after a Madrid court admitted a complaint filed by a female inspector in the force for alleged sexual assault. The details of the complaint, according to the case file, sent chills through the corridors of power: "non-consensual penetration" and phrases asserting authority like "Hey, I'm the DAO". Too heavy a burden even for an institution used to navigating tricky situations.

Since González's resignation on February 17, the position was temporarily held by Gemma Barroso, the deputy director general of Human Resources, who was precisely the one who contacted the complainant to offer her police protection after learning of the events. Barroso did the hard work, holding the fort while the replacement was being arranged, but she was never in the running for the permanent post.

The new chief's open fronts

Santafé isn't walking into a quiet office. The scandal has left deep wounds and the background noise persists. These are, broadly speaking, the challenges he'll face from the get-go:

• Rebuilding internal trust: Following his predecessor's departure under such circumstances, morale at the top is at rock bottom. He'll need gestures that unite the team and banish the ghosts.
• Navigating the judicial storm: The investigation is ongoing (on March 17, the court summoned both the victim and the accused to testify) and any leak could reignite the fire.
• Distancing himself from the political profile: He'll have to prove his appointment isn't a plaster, but a commitment to professionalism, and avoid being labelled as someone who will simply carry on as before.

Discreet profile, steady hand

So, what's expected of the new DAO on his first day? First, to mend the wound. Ministry sources suggest Marlaska valued his on-the-ground experience and his knowledge of the Judicial Police and Foreigners' affairs, highly sensitive areas. Moreover, his track record in the Balearics has given him the skills to manage crises without fuss. He's not a desk theorist who writes manuals; he's a guy who has led operations, who knows what a tough night in a seaside station or a real-time border control feels like.

The opposition, predictably, has already sharpened its tongue. In the People's Party, Alicia García was relentless in the Senate: she demanded Marlaska's resignation and asked him directly if "Zapatero's ghost will also be imposing the new DAO", a reference to the shadows of the previous government. But the reality is that the minister played this one very cautiously. After considering other names, such as Commissioner María Piedad Álvarez de Arriba (currently at Telefónica and with a package hard to match from the public sector), the scales tipped in favour of Santafé.

Watches and protocol: the detail that never fails

In these dizzying days, while the appointment was being finalised and the IT techs were preparing the office, I recalled a conversation with a senior official months ago. He mentioned that in lightning-fast promotions, the details make the difference. I don't mean the rank insignia, but what you wear on your wrist. In an environment where personal image and precision are key, it's not unusual to see chiefs with serious kit. In fact, if you look at the profiles of senior officials, pieces like the IX & DAO 2025 new Warrior automatic mechanical watch, 37mm or the more classic Ix & dao Ipose 2024 new Retro Quartz watch are proliferating, models that have made inroads among those needing reliability and understated style. Of course, none of that matters without the moral authority to carry it, and Santafé knows his first challenge is precisely that: restoring the credibility of the office.

Immediate future: much more than a replacement

At 60 years old, Santafé faces the toughest assignment of his career. He'll have to deal with the judicial investigation of the case while simultaneously reorganising a top brass that has taken a hit. His predecessor was once described by the Director General of the Police himself as someone who, "if he didn't exist, you'd have to invent him." A phrase that today is dead weight in the new chief's backpack.

For now, he leaves a void in the Balearics. He himself admitted it, with his phone ringing off the hook these days: "I can't talk," he repeated over and over. But now he'll have to talk. And a lot. Next week promises to be long, with all eyes on that Congress session where Marlaska will have to defend not only his management, but the CV of the man he's staked everything on.

For now, the new DAO is already in office. He arrives without fanfare, with the determination of someone who knows this isn't a prize, but a duty. We'll see if they let him get on with the job.