Ertzaintza
Ertzaintza
Logo of the Ertzaintza.
Agency Overview
Formed
1980
Preceding
agency
Ertzaña
Legal
personality
Governmental: Government
agency
Jurisdictional Structure
Operations
jurisdiction*
Autonomous Community of
Basque Country, ES
Governing
body
Department of the Interior of
the Basque Government
General
nature
• Law enforcement
• Local civilian police
Operational Structure
Headquarters Vitoria, Spain
Ertzainas
7,500
Elected
officer
responsible
Rodolfo Ares, Minister of
Interior (Basque Country)
Agency
executive
José Antonio Varela, Director
Units
List
Urban Security
Urban Security Rural Patrol
Traffic Unit
Traffic Unit Motorcyclist
Patrol
Mountain Rescue Unit
Diving Rescue Unit
Anti Riots
Bomb Disposal Unit
Berrozi: Bodyguard,
Intervention and Subsoil
Helicopters Unit
K-9 Operation Group
Drugs Group
Computer Offences Group
Personal Protection Group:
Bodyguards, Gender Violence,
etc.
Intelligence Group
Gambling and Shows Group
Police
Stations
Ertzain-
etxeas
List
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Llodio/Laudio
Laguardia
Durango
Balmaseda
Sestao
Bilbao
Beasain
Zumarraga
Tolosa
Azkoitia
Zarautz
Hernani
Donostia/San Sebastián
Renteria
Irun
Eibar
Bergara
Ondarroa
Facilities
Garrisons
20
Website
http://www.ertzaintza.net
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which
the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.
Ertzaintza Headquarters at Vitoria-Gasteiz
Ertzaintza
is the police force of the
Basque Country, one of the autonomous
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ertzaintza
1
communities of Spain. An Ertzaintza member
is an ertzaina.
History
Origins
The origins of the current Ertzaintza, as a po-
lice force of the part of the Basque Country
under Spanish jurisdiction, can be traced
back to the old municipal militias, which
were popular organizations at the service of
local bodies, created to satisfy the need for
public safety. But it was not until the 19th
century when the almost permanent police
corps of a professional nature were created.
It was a response to the banditry caused
by the continuous so