Deaths of military police officers on duty in the state of São Paulo fell by half over the three years after the adoption of body cameras by the troops, in August 2020. This information was disclosed by an unprecedented survey carried out by GloboNews based on data from the corporation obtained through the Access to Information Law (LAI).
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Number of Deaths
Between 2021 and 2023, the first three years after the implementation of the ‘Olho Vivo Program’ – by the SP government – 19 military police officers died on duty, which represents an average of 6.3 deaths per year.
Between 2017 and 2019, three years before the progressive adoption of body cameras by the troops, 41 deaths (an average of 13.6 deaths per year) were recorded.
This means a 53.7% drop in the annual average of PM deaths when comparing the periods 2017-2019 and 2021-2013.
In 2020, the year in which the Olho Vivo program began, 18 PMs died on duty in the state.
Analyzed Data
The data analyzed is part of a ten-year historical series (2014-2023) that covers the murders of military police officers in the state of São Paulo while on duty. It does not, therefore, include the deaths of off-duty officers, which are more frequent than those that occur during periods when police officers are off work.
Recent Cases
After five attacks on police officers in different regions of the state of São Paulo in 24 hours, the Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP) announced new Escudo operations on the weekend. The cases involve attempted robbery and a home invasion. A military police officer was killed.
The operations were created by the Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) administration as a standard response to attacks against police officers. The attacks took place in Guarulhos, São Bernardo do Campo, and in the south of the capital.
Governor Changes His Opinion
Less than a month after stating that he would not invest in the implementation of more cameras on military police uniforms, governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) changed his discourse and said on Monday (22/01) that he can, indeed, expand the equipment.
The governor also promised very strong investment in monitoring and technology to guarantee security for the population, an issue that was a problem in his first year in office.
Tarcísio has fluctuated in his positions regarding the use of body cameras since the 2022 electoral campaign. During the dispute, he even promised to remove the equipment if elected, but in October, shortly before the first round, he reversed his decision, displeasing Bolsonaro’s allies.
Budget
From January to November 2023, the budget allocated to cameras in military police uniforms fell from R$152 million to R$97.6 million — a cut of 35.7%. At the same time, there was an increase in police lethality, which had been falling for three years.
Analysis:
The implementation of police body cameras is a public policy adopted in numerous countries worldwide, aiming to mitigate the unwarranted use of force, enhance control mechanisms, and boost overall efficiency. Embracing this technology is often viewed as a step towards professionalization and is not only considered a tool for potential oversight but also as personal protective equipment, instilling a sense of security among law enforcement officers.
However, there remain regulatory gaps in states where body cameras are already in use, exemplified by the complaint from the Rio de Janeiro Public Defender’s Office alleging that the state’s Military Police had tampered with and deleted footage from the cameras provided to the agency. The existence of “unorthodox” or unlawful practices and methods among some police officers poses a significant hurdle to the swift and complete implementation of body cameras, as well as the full disclosure of recorded content. This resistance is likely to stem from concerns about the potential exposure of such practices, highlighting the challenges in ensuring transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies.
Source: G1; Folha de São Paulo.
