## Clash Among Officers Over Retired Agents’ Protest at Tijuana City Hall
Retired and disabled municipal police officers stormed an extraordinary session of the Tijuana City Council on Thursday, demanding salary equalization and retroactive pay. The session, which lasted two hours, was interrupted by 11 officers just before it was concluded by Mayor Montserrat Caballero RamÃrez.
The officers expressed frustration over not being included in the Municipal Strengthening Contribution Fund (Fortamun), a benefit that has been available to active municipal police officers since June of this year. As the session was set to start at 2:00 PM, retired officers attempted to enter the council chamber but were physically blocked by active police officers.
“One of them grabbed my hand; I have had three surgeries for a gunshot wound. He twisted my hand despite me telling him it was fractured,” said one of the protesters. Paramedics later treated the injured officers at the Municipal Palace.
Victor Hugo Zapari, a retired officer, voiced his dismay directly to the council members. “I served for 44 years, during which I was shot and developed chronic rhinitis. It’s an abuse that we didn’t receive a pay raise in the only municipality where this happened, leaving me frustrated,” he said.
Mayor Caballero RamÃrez urged council members to vote immediately on the salary increase and retroactive pay, but several members argued that the issue should be addressed in another session. “The citizens are asking you, please, to address the matter of the disabled police officers,” she appealed.
In response, the council and the mayor agreed to hold an extraordinary session on Friday, September 6, to vote on salary equalization and retroactive payments for the retired and disabled officers. Council members Edgar Montiel, Claudia Casas, Erwin Areizaga, Mónica Vázquez, Rogelia Arzola, Miriam EcheverrÃa, Domingo Juárez, Georgina Arana, Enrique Anaya, and Sandra Magaña met with the protesting officers afterward. They agreed to meet again at noon on Friday to discuss the proposal before the extraordinary session.
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### More Updates Related to Tijuana Police Protests
**Violent Confrontations Increase in Tijuana:**
Recent days have seen a surge in violence in Tijuana, with three bodies found in various parts of the city on Thursday morning. This follows a Wednesday night shooting at “La Cueva del Peludo” bar, leaving two injured and one dead.
**Rising Fentanyl Use in Baja California:**
The past two years have seen a significant increase in fentanyl consumption in Baja California. Many patients seeking addiction treatment are from the United States, highlighting the cross-border nature of the crisis.
**Tourism Remains Stable Despite Violence:**
Despite recent violent incidents, Tijuana’s tourism figures remain positive. However, security concerns following incidents involving Australian and American tourists have affected visitor perceptions.
**Municipal Elections and Pending Issues:**
Montserrat Caballero’s government faces unfinished business before the upcoming municipal elections. The current administration will likely leave several key issues for the next government to address, amid continuing public concerns over safety and economic stability.