Among the many tasks assumed by the Hero of Yaguajay, Camilo Cienfuegos, after the revolutionary triumph, was the creation of the Motorized Police. From that first squad, there are still some patrolmen left in Camagüey.

We arrived at the home of retired Captain Rolando Juan Cruz Borja, and on the wheels of his motorcycle we let the memories fly.

Rolando always had the guerrilla with the big smile and good heart very close to him, ever since he was part of his column in the Sierra Maestra. In February 1959, the Revolutionary Army decided to form the Motorized Police, popularly known as “Caballitos”. In May, 162 policemen who made up the first squad, of which he was part of for many years, graduated from an intensive course in the capital.

During the high school process and driving classes, Camilo visited the cadets. Rolando says that they were all young and mostly of humble origin, they used to make jokes and mischief at night. One night they pillowed the instructor, and the event reached the ears of the Captain.

Since Camilo was also a joker and did bad things to Che in his hammock, he felt identified with the young people, but he needed to impose discipline.

Rolando smiles searching his memory and continues telling the story. He says that, without losing his poise, Camilo made them promise respect for his companion, since they were soldiers and had to seriously prepare for the long road that the nascent Revolution had ahead.

Along with five colleagues, Rolando was sent to work in Camagüey, a city that has welcomed him forever for 60 years and where he formed a beautiful family with his wife, two children and four grandchildren.

Here he met again with the Lord of the Vanguard, who came to verify that the new motorized police was already active. He asked what they needed to be on the road, and in two days he ordered the five motorcycles that were missing to start patrolling the highways.

From those days he worked intensely, without stopping his patrol, until a leg surgery forced him to get off his two wheels, to stay as an instructor, and then as a trainer for the Ministry of the Interior, until his retirement.

Today, Rolando continues his militancy from the zonal group. He is an active member of the Association of Combatants and from that organization he remains faithful to his principles as he promised Camilo when he graduated as a motorcyclist in 1959.

With a scratchy voice, Captain Borja recalls the last time he saw Camilo, when he came to face Huber Matos’s betrayal. He assures that there were no clashes; Huber surrendered quietly, because it was very difficult for to contradict Camilo; he conveyed character and fairness.

Rolando did not imagine that hours later, the Hero of Yaguajay would disappear forever. The news moved him to his soul; he cried a lot, but he always kept the hope that they would find him.

Camilo Cienfuegos lives by his example in Rolando Juan Cruz Borja. As he said when receiving me in his house: “here there are no luxuries, only dignity”; because he did not fight to receive military ranks or material resources. His fight was for the Revolution, to build a society of peace for his children and grandchildren. And his promise is fulfilled.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García