Dozens of widows of Tijuana municipal police officers rallied outside the Palacio Municipal on Monday, June 9, demanding pension benefits they say the city has refused to deliver for nearly a year. Spokesperson Ana Karen Sánchez told reporters that authorities have offered no concrete solution despite repeated meetings and promises.
The protest was organized by the Asociación de Policías Retirados de Tijuana y Rosarito A.C., led by its president, retired officer Arturo Zavala Banda. He called the demonstration after a June 2 meeting with city officials ended with what he described as a blanket rejection of the widows’ claims.
City Officials Say Pension Issues Are ‘Frozen’
At that meeting, according to Zavala Banda, officials told the group that all public safety spending issues, including widow pensions, officer jubilations for those with 30 years of service, salary equalization for the commercial police division, and efficiency and risk bonuses, were frozen. The widows say the only financial help they have received is a one-time payment of 15,000 pesos (roughly $750 USD), an amount they call insufficient.
An estimated 90 widows in Tijuana currently lack both pension payments and access to medical care. Some have waited as long as 20 years without resolution. The group first drew public attention in February 2026 when they protested during a Día de la Bandera ceremony at the same location.
Widows Reject City Official’s Public Comments
The protesters also rejected recent public statements by Tijuana’s síndica procuradora (the city’s chief legal oversight officer), Teresita Balderas. In a live broadcast, Balderas said she had received a group of widows in her office, but demonstrators accused her of downplaying the scope of their demands and failing to act on them.
The association announced it is preparing formal criminal complaints alleging abuse of authority and discrimination. It also plans to pursue civil litigation in court to compel the municipality to honor pension and social security obligations owed to the families of fallen and retired officers.
This is not the first time Tijuana police widows have clashed with city hall over benefits. In April 2024, widows of officers killed in the line of duty demanded the city restart medical coverage that had been cut off at the start of that year, affecting at least 15 families.
The story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana, with additional details published by El Imparcial and Tijuana en Línea.