Former Deputy Police Director maintains State legal defence despite sexual assault accusation
José Ángel González retains State legal representation in a lawsuit while being investigated for sexual assault. The case reopens debate over differential treatment of officials close to the Interior Minister.
González continues with State lawyer following sexual assault accusation
The former Deputy Operational Director (DAO) of the National Police José Ángel González maintains representation by the State Legal Service in a complaint filed against him by Police Inspector Tomás González de la Oliva, according to El Mundo. This legal defence persists despite González facing charges for sexual assault against a work colleague, an offence that prompted his resignation from the post.
The Interior Ministry's decision to preserve State legal representation for the former DAO in this proceeding contrasts with the immediate withdrawal of that same defence in the matter relating to the alleged sexual assault. Police sources attribute the distinction to the "high-profile" nature of the sexual violence case.
The complaint of the sidelined inspector
González de la Oliva filed the complaint after being removed from his post as head of the Specialised and Violent Crime Unit (UDEV) in 2019. His replacement came after he publicly defended the actions of officers deployed in Barcelona during the unrest following the Catalan independence trial verdict in October 2019. González de la Oliva's assessment of the operation directly conflicted with the opinion of the former DAO.
According to an Internal Affairs report, the Police General Directorate accessed the computer system to delete a favourable document that would allow the inspector to recover his professional rank. The investigating judge is examining possible offences of misconduct in office, abuse of authority, harassment and breach of duty regarding custody of public documents.
Unimplemented court ruling
A ruling by the Madrid High Court of Justice, final since 2 December 2025, declared that the Police General Directorate had violated González de la Oliva's right to career progression and was illegally keeping him in a lower-ranking position. The court ordered his reinstatement to police inspector rank.
On 9 April 2026, the new DAO José Luis Santafé committed himself in a meeting with González de la Oliva to assign him a position commensurate with his rank and consolidated level. This did not happen. Over the past five years, González de la Oliva applied for 44 vacant positions to regularise his situation without receiving any response.
Exhausted remedies and institutional escalation
González de la Oliva submitted three letters to the Interior Minister requesting regularisation of his employment situation, without receiving a response. After these failed attempts, he appealed to the Ombudsman, who admitted the complaint as meeting the requirements for acceptance. The inspector has been stuck for years in a position below his qualifications.
At his inauguration on 12 March 2026, Santafé pledged to review internal protocols and investigate "to the fullest extent" any abuse or irregularity in the Force, prioritising victim protection. The Interior Ministry declined to make any assessment regarding the information.
The weight of political confidence
González is a trusted associate of Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The Minister was the one who promoted him to the highest position in the Police. The decision to maintain his State legal defence in the complaint once again puts under scrutiny the protection that, according to critics, the Interior Minister extends to those who were part of the police leadership circle of his trust. Whilst González's conduct remains subject to judicial investigation, he retains privileges associated with his former position.
Source: El Mundo