Mexicali’s municipal government retired 32 police officers on June 5 under a newly created early retirement program, the first group to qualify since the initiative launched this year. Mayor Norma Bustamante presided over the ceremony, calling it a historic milestone for the city’s police force.
The 32 officers served in the Dirección de Seguridad Pública Municipal (DSPM), the city’s municipal public security directorate. To qualify for the early retirement program, officers must be between 57 and 59 years old with at least 30 years of active service. A medical exemption is available for officers 50 and older who suffer from serious health conditions.
Program Formally Launched in 2026
Claudia Beltrán, the city’s chief municipal officer (Oficial Mayor), confirmed that the early retirement program took effect in 2026. She described the initiative as a recognition of the commitment, discipline, and career trajectories of officers who spent more than three decades protecting Mexicali residents.
The program builds on previous efforts to support retiring officers. In February 2026, Bustamante honored a separate group of 23 officers at a City Hall ceremony marking their standard retirement from the DSPM. That event included a retirement bonus the administration had pledged to deliver.
Creating Space for New Recruits
The early retirement initiative is designed to transition veteran officers out of the force with dignity while opening positions for younger recruits. Beltrán has noted publicly that the municipal payroll has remained largely unchanged for 20 years and that the city still needs more personnel. The new program creates a structured pathway for turnover without expanding the overall headcount.
The Baja California Police Federation expressed support for the program, a sign of broader institutional backing. Public Security Director Luis Felipe Chan participated in the ceremony, which included a final roll call for the departing officers.
Mexicali, the capital of Baja California, sits directly across the border from Calexico, California. The city’s police force handles public safety in a metropolitan area of roughly one million residents, making the condition and staffing of the DSPM a direct concern for the broader community.
The story was first reported by Jornada BC and California Medios.