Santa Fe Police Protest: Salary Increase Demands and Accusations of Instigation

A representative of the Santa Fe police is demanding a salary increase for the entire force, not just for a select few. The lawyer representing the agents who began the protest last Wednesday stated that the Santa Fe Ministry of Justice and Security did not address the demands presented the previous week. 'They came out with a package of measures, trying to calm the situation, and all they did was try to divide,' he commented. Members of the Santa Fe Police began a protest on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, with patrol cars stationed in front of the headquarters of Regional Unit II. The lawyer recalled that the initial request was for the implementation of 'comprehensive psychological treatment that was not being given to the personnel.' Later, he stated: 'On a demand that we consider legitimate in substance, other interests have been mounted that have very little to do with legitimacy.' The former Secretary of Penitentiary Affairs considered that the conflict escalated with the intervention of 'people linked to displaced sectors of the Santa Fe Police, in some cases linked to very serious corruption crimes whose perpetrators are now deprived of their liberty.' He also anticipated that there will be more dismissals as the administrative investigation progresses and they will notify the Public Ministry of the Accusation (MPA) to address the case judicially. The official confirmed that he is in permanent dialogue with his national counterpart, Alejandra Monteoliva, to guarantee patrol coverage in Rosario and other points in the province if necessary. 'Today, patrol coverage is being maintained, not normally, but with effort,' he affirmed about the situation in Rosario. While in the middle of the morning dozens of motorcycles and cars from the force were gathered in front of the headquarters of Regional Unit II, the official denounced the 'abandonment of service' by those in charge of using some of those vehicles. 'We are going to back the work of the chiefs, starting with the provincial chief, who went in person to prevent a group of protesters from approaching and blocking the gate, as he was ordered by me,' he clarified regarding the incidents this morning on Ovidio Lagos at 5200. Cococcioni emphasized that the core of the protest is legitimate, but he considered that the current scenario is not the same as last week. He referred this way to the deployment of 'illegal actions and in some cases violent acts with the aim of 'hitting a successful policy.' The minister expressed concern about the cessation of activities of at least 20 units at the start of the day. 'To use the institution and its officials to directly undermine the security policy that cost us so much work to put in order, is to cross a line and we are not going to consent to it,' Cococcioni sentenced at a press conference. The Minister of Justice and Security of the province, Pablo Cococcioni, announced this Tuesday that they have already promoted at least 20 dismissals due to the new protests in the Santa Fe Police. In this regard, he highlighted that the federal forces had a significant deployment when the work of a part of the provincial officials was halted. As for the action plan to normalize activity, the head of the Justice and Security portfolio ruled out immediate changes in the police leadership. 'I would dare to say that it entails criminal responsibility if a crime that could have been avoided were to occur,' he hinted. 'They are raising and safeguarding videos and images of clear transgressions that the protagonists themselves post,' he pointed out. Lawyer Gabriel Sarla stated this Tuesday that the demonstration in front of the headquarters of Regional Unit II expresses dissatisfaction with the labor improvements announced by the provincial government. 'Although it has not substantially affected security, it objectively raises risk levels,' he said. Regarding what happened in recent days, he pointed out: 'We have records of hooded people or people with their faces covered who have tried to camouflage themselves in the crowd, clearly linked to specific displaced sectors of the institution in Regional Unit II.' The Minister of Justice and Security commented that the internal investigation has advanced based on material that 'the participants upload to social networks' during each demonstration. Among other factors, he referred to the 'lack of sleep and long working hours,' as well as additional services because the police officer 'does not even make it to the middle of the month with their salary.' At the same time, he emphasized that they are 'willing to dialogue about everything' in order to improve the working conditions of the personnel. 'We are not going to let this pass.' As for the salary adjustment, he argued that they did not receive a salary increase but a 'non-remunerative bonus' and stressed: 'Obviously, it was not well-received because it is not what is being requested.'