A Spanish police officer who has written 10 thrillers is being investigated over allegations that he is damaging the force’s reputation and using his day job to promote his books.



Esteban Navarro, an officer in Huesca in the north-eastern region of Aragón, recently published a novel about a gang of corrupt police officers set in his own station.

According to its blurb, the book – Una Historia de Policías (A Police Story) – is “a debate about the origin of evil, but also a reflection on how friendship and camaraderie can drag us to the darkest side of dishonour”.



Since the book was published in March, Navarro has been told that anonymous complaints have been made against him by his colleagues, apparently because of his appearances on social media rather than because of his new book.



“I’ve written 10 novels over 23 years and no one has ever said anything,” he told the Guardian. “But now lots of people have asked if it has to do with the new book.



“I don’t want to draw any connections, but it’s a bit of a coincidence.”

Navarro, 52, has been an officer for more than two decades. He said that while the book was inspired by real events and set in Huesca, it was a work of fiction. He also stressed it was not an attempt to attack the police’s integrity or professionalism.

“It’s a book about a mafia within the police, but it’s not pessimistic. It shows that the police has its own mechanisms for cleaning itself up. If you read it all the way through, the conclusion is that the police are good and that they do a good job. That’s why I’m so surprised.”



The author said he had always been careful to keep his two professions separate: “When I attend a book event, I never say I’m a policeman and I don’t mention I’m a policeman on my book jackets.”

What is more, he added, he received a plaque three years ago recognising him as a credit to the force.

He has cancelled all his literary engagements while he waits to give evidence to investigators on 5 June but hopes the investigation will be dropped as soon as possible. In the meantime, other writers have expressed their support online.

“My life was happy and neat until Monday, when they told me that I was being investigated over various complaints from my colleagues,” said Navarro.

“That really hurt. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought I had friends in my own station.”

A spokesman for Aragón police confirmed that complaints had been received and said an internal inquiry was under way, but declined to give further details.

“An investigation has been opened to determine whether the officer has done something to warrant a disciplinary penalty,” he said.