The Rio de Janeiro City Council approved in a first-round vote, on Tuesday (01/04), the proposed amendment to the city’s Organic Law that authorizes members of the Municipal Guard to carry firearms. In addition to allowing officers to be armed while on duty, the proposal formally classifies the guard as a public security force with powers to carry out preventive and visible (ostensive) policing.
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Municipal Guard Without Weapons
Along with Recife, Rio de Janeiro remains one of the few major cities in Brazil where the Municipal Guard is not authorized to carry firearms. Currently, municipal agents use equipment classified as having lower offensive potential. The proposal to arm the Municipal Guard has been under discussion in the City Council since 2018 and appeared on the legislative agenda more than 20 times without reaching a vote—until now.
Back on the Agenda
The proposal returned to the City Council’s agenda in March, following a decision by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) in February. The STF ruled that municipal guards should be officially recognized as part of the national public security system, opening the door for new legal interpretations regarding their powers and equipment.
No Name Change
The approved amendment does not include a name change for the Municipal Guard, as originally proposed by Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD). His plan to create a so-called “Municipal Force” faced resistance after criticism from opposition members and from within the Municipal Guard itself. Critics argued that the creation of a separate armed force made up of temporary agents undermined the role of career officers. After mounting pressure, Mayor Paes withdrew the proposal to rename and restructure the guard at the end of March.
Second Stage
The regulation of how the Municipal Guard will be armed is still pending and will be addressed in a Complementary Bill (PLC) also introduced by Mayor Paes. This bill will set the rules for the operation of armed officers, but consensus among council members has yet to be reached. One of the main points of contention is the possibility of hiring temporary agents to carry firearms, a provision some lawmakers argue is unconstitutional.
Regulation
Debates around regulation remain unresolved. The current bill from the city government allows temporary hires to be armed, but critics argue that only civil servants who pass a public examination should have that authority. Another provision in the proposal requires that officers return their firearms to specific city hall locations at the end of each shift. Councilman Felipe Boró (PSD) opposes this clause, stating that other security forces are allowed to carry weapons off-duty and that municipal guards should have the same rights. Meanwhile, Councilman Felipe Pires (PT) has proposed an amendment requiring the use of body cameras by armed guards, similar to the policy in place for the Military Police. He argues that this would increase transparency, but the city’s proposal currently makes no mention of body cameras.
Staff
The municipal government plans to arm 4,200 Municipal Guard officers by 2028. However, there are concerns about the feasibility of this goal. The training process is demanding, including psychological assessments and technical instruction. To meet the target, the city may need to launch a new public recruitment process to expand the force.
Role of the Municipal Guard
Under the new framework, the Municipal Guard would be tasked primarily with handling minor crimes, while the Military Police would continue to respond to more serious offenses. The city’s Civitas project—which aims to expand video surveillance across Rio de Janeiro—will support the operations of the armed Municipal Guard.
Analysis:
The approval of the amendment allowing Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal Guard to carry firearms represents a significant shift in the city’s public security policy. The decision aligns with a broader national trend of expanding the role of municipal guards, especially after the Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruled that they are part of Brazil’s public security system. However, this move reignites debates over the role and training of municipal agents in crime prevention.
The controversy surrounding the regulation of armed municipal officers raises unresolved questions about governance, training standards, and oversight mechanisms. The disagreement over hiring temporary agents versus requiring public examinations reflects concerns about professionalism and long-term accountability. Additionally, the omission of body cameras in the current proposal raises transparency issues, especially given the ongoing debates about police oversight in Brazil.
Sources: A Folha de SP; Extra; O Globo.
