The number of deaths committed by military police officers in the state of São Paulo grew by 94% in the first two months of this year compared to the same period in 2023, the first year of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) as head of the São Paulo government.
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There was a jump from 69 to 134 deaths in the period. This is what a survey carried out by GloboNews and G1 points out based on figures released by the Special Action Group for Public Security and External Control of Police Activity (Gaesp), of the State Public Ministry.
Police Officers on duty and Off Duty
These numbers include deaths committed by on-duty and off-duty police officers throughout São Paulo. According to data from Gaesp, the increase was driven by deaths committed by police officers on duty, which jumped 129% (from 49 to 112) between the first two months of 2023 and 2024.
Deaths committed by off-duty police officers grew by 10% (from 20 to 22) in the same period.
Month of February
Figures from the Special Action Group for Public Security and External Control of Police Activity (Gaesp) point to February with higher police fatalities than that recorded in January of this year.
According to Gaesp, in February this year, 79 people were killed by the PM in the state of São Paulo, which represents an increase of 147% compared to the 32 deaths recorded in February 2023.
In January this year, the PM killed 55 people in the state, 49% more than the 37 recorded in January last year, according to Gaesp figures.
Deaths of Police Officers and Civilians in Baixada Santista
It was in February this year that the Public Security Secretariat launched a new phase of Operation Summer, with reinforced policing in Baixada Santista. The action took place in response to the murder of soldier Samuel Wesley Cosmo, from Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar (Rota), on the 2nd.
Deaths from PMs in the 1st two months in SP:
- State: 134
- Baixada Santista: 63
- Capital: 29
Analysis:
The anticipated increase in fatalities, as noted by experts, aligns with the government’s policy of refraining from investing in the expansion of body cameras for police officers. The directives issued by political leaders, including the Secretariat of Public Security and the Military Police, involved the dismantling of the camera program. Coupled with a lack of scrutiny from oversight bodies such as the Public Ministry, these factors have contributed significantly to the upsurge in casualties resulting from police interventions.
This troubling trend is not only evident on a broader scale but is notably pronounced in the Baixada Santista region. Here, the adverse consequences of Operation Summer have become apparent, manifesting as a de facto retaliatory operation in response to the murder of soldier Cosmo.
Source: G1.