Manuel Concha Pedregal
Manuel Santiago Concha Pedregal (22 November 1881 – 7 September 1939) was a Chilean police officer who served as the first general director of Carabineros de Chile from 1931 to 1932.
Biography
Family and early life
Concha was born in Santiago, Chile, on 22 November 1881. He was one of six children born to José Manuel de Santiago Concha y Aldunate Lastra and Juana Rosa del Pedregal Neumann.
Police career
In 1906, Concha joined the Santiago Fiscal Police (Policía Fiscal de Santiago) as a telephone operator while seeking admission as an officer cadet. After waiting for a year, he decided to join the State Railways Police (Policía de los Ferrocarriles del Estado), where he remained for several months before being appointed sub-inspector of the Santiago Police on 16 September 1907.
On 18 November 1920, during the visit to Chile of Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria, a member of the Spanish royal family, Concha was responsible for police protocol arrangements in Magallanes.
In 1925, he was assigned to Santiago as prefect, where he again performed ceremonial duties during the visit of the Italian prince Umberto, son of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. In recognition of his service, he was appointed an officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy.
General Director of Carabineros
The political crisis of 1931 led to the resignation of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo on 21 July and the departure of Ambrosio Viaux from the leadership of Carabineros on 3 August. On 6 August, during the acting presidency of Juan Esteban Montero.
On 4 June 1932, coinciding with the coup d'état that overthrew President Montero, Concha resigned from his position because of a physical incapacity.
He died in Santiago on 7 September 1939, aged 57.
Rank history
Concha's promotions within the Santiago Police and Carabineros de Chile were as follows:
- 1906: Officer cadet
- 1907: Sub-inspector
- 1909: Inspector
- 1924: Deputy prefect
- 1925: Prefect
- 1927: Colonel
- 1930: Inspector colonel
- 1931: General Director
- 1932: General