Archived Harassment Probe in Barcelona Preceded Commissioner’s India Assignment Amidst New Allegations
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – A confidential investigation initiated by the Spanish Interior Ministry in 2020 into the conduct of National Police Commissioner Emilio de la Calle, then head of the Provincial Brigade of Foreigners and Borders in Barcelona, was ultimately archived due to a perceived lack of evidence. This revelation comes as De la Calle faces new, severe allegations of workplace and sexual harassment against a subordinate in India, currently under investigation by the Audiencia Nacional.
The Initial Complaint: “Abusive” Leadership in Barcelona
The 2020 probe was triggered by a forceful complaint from the SUP police union, which accused Commissioner De la Calle of an “abusive” management style. The union’s detailed report, submitted to the Safety and Health Committee of the Superior Headquarters of Catalonia, outlined a pattern of behavior characterized by:
- Shouting and yelling at section chiefs, with the intensity of the screams being “audible by other colleagues.”
- “Fierce criticism of work performed, with those offended feeling humiliated and publicly disparaged.”
- Allegations of staff being deliberately provoked to “make them explode.”
- “Undue and arbitrary pressure.”
- “Debasing individuals” by assigning them work below their capabilities.
- “Maliciously limiting access to courses.”
- “Disregarding, ignoring, excluding, or ostracizing.”
- Inequitable evaluations.
- Threats of disciplinary action.
- “Removing several dissenters as a form of punishment.”
The union also cited a high number of resignations, sick leaves, and requests for transfers among the more than 200 personnel under De la Calle’s command at the time.
The Ministry’s Response and Archiving of the Case
The Directorate General of the Police confirmed that it took statements from various individuals as part of the reserved information process. However, a spokesperson stated that the file was closed due to the “weakness of the evidence,” without specifying the exact number of individuals questioned. Shortly thereafter, De la Calle was assigned to a diplomatic post in India.
De la Calle’s Arrival in Barcelona and Controversial Style
Commissioner Emilio de la Calle’s arrival in Barcelona in 2017, initially as head of the UCRIF (Central Unit for Immigration Networks and Document Forgeries) and later as Brigade chief, was not unnoticed. He spearheaded joint teams with the Mossos d’Esquadra during a tumultuous period marked by the independence movement, aiming to mend strained relationships between the two forces. De la Calle himself stated to this newspaper, “That was my mission.”
However, criticisms of his “rough” leadership style, marked by shouting and disrespect, quickly emerged. An anonymous former UCRIF member, who left his position partly due to De la Calle, lamented, “A commissioner from the last century, like ‘Los hombres de Paco’.” Police sources described his management as “violent” and prone to “sudden mood swings,” explaining, “He would run over anyone he saw as weak.” They added, “It wasn’t personal, but his way of being.”
De la Calle, in his defense, claims the union’s complaint had a “political intention” and cited 14 individuals who testified in his favor during the internal investigation, praising his leadership and denying a poor work environment. He admitted to arriving in Barcelona to “lift the UCRIF and the Foreigners Brigade,” attributing a perceived “lethargy” among staff to the impact of the independence process and the Mossos d’Esquadra’s increased competencies. He insisted, “There was no bad atmosphere, there was a very high intensity, and getting people to work.”
Internal Dynamics and Further Complaints
When De la Calle first arrived in Barcelona, his immediate superior was Commissioner Juan Fortuny de Pedro, who tragically committed a double murder-suicide in August 2024 after retirement. Later, when De la Calle was promoted to head the Foreigners Brigade, Federico Delgado, a commissioner with a contrasting temperament, was chosen as his second-in-command. “He never raised his voice,” police sources noted.
During this period, the internal complaint from the SUP union, though ultimately unsuccessful, further soured the atmosphere. The Jupol union also criticized “coronapinchos” – lunches organized by De la Calle during the pandemic – demanding measures against him, which were not taken. In 2021, he was assigned to India, a move he described as a result of being “worn out.”
The SUP union expressed regret that despite repeated accusations of abuse in Catalonia, all complaints were archived and covered up. They concluded, “The reward was to send him to the embassy in India where, out of the union’s focus, he went wild.”
Restraining Order and New Allegations in India
Commissioner De la Calle currently faces a restraining order from his subordinate, “Sandra” (a fictitious name to protect her identity), with whom he worked between 2024 and 2025 at the Interior Ministry’s office in the Spanish embassy in New Delhi, India. Sandra secretly recorded months of verbal and even physical aggression from her superior, eventually filing a complaint with the Audiencia Nacional.
The judge has indicted the commissioner for seven offenses related to workplace and sexual harassment and abuse of power. The complaint, filed by lawyer Juan Antonio Frago, describes a “true climate of terror” where De la Calle allegedly isolated Sandra socially, making her believe everyone around her was dangerous, and subjecting her work to relentless scrutiny. In February 2025, he reportedly told her, “Who the hell do you think you are? If I tell you something, I only do it to protect you. You’re screwing me over. I’m trying to protect you, I’m trying to make you a better police officer and you’re not letting me. You’re an idiot.” She filed an internal complaint a month later, leading to his suspension from employment and salary by the Ministry of the Interior in April.
Source: Investigative journalism, internal documents obtained from a whistleblower, anonymous witness testimonies, data from the National Police, analysis of official statements.
