Deaths caused by the Military Police (PM) in the state of São Paulo increased by 71% in the first half of 2024, the second year of the Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) administration, according to data from the São Paulo Public Ministry. There were 344 deaths recorded by police officers between January and June of this year, compared to 201 cases of Death Resulting from Police Intervention (MDIP, in the technical acronym) in the same period of 2023.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
Mainly on Duty
The increase occurs, in particular, in cases of military personnel during service, with a jump from 154 records to 296. Crimes involving military personnel on leave varied from 47 to 48 between 2023 and 2024.
Civil Police Officers
Deaths committed by civil police officers decreased by 33% in the same period: from 21 to 14. Together, the two police forces officially killed 358 people in the first half of 2024, an increase of 61% compared to the 222 cases in the same period last year.
Operation Summer
The period analyzed in 2024 includes Operation Summer, a police action in Baixada Santista in response to the murders of three military police officers. Between February 2 and April 1, when it ended, the operation recorded 56 deaths by police officers.
Representation Against Derrite
Federal deputy Ivan Valente (PSOL-SP) filed a representation with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of São Paulo in which he points out evidence of administrative impropriety and malfeasance by the state secretary of Public Security, Guilherme Derrite.
Change in the Rules
Valente is referring to changes promoted by Derrite in the rules on the removal of police officers suspected of committing crimes. An internal bulletin published on June 18 ended the power of regional commanders to remove and request investigations against military personnel involved in serious incidents. With the new rule, the deputy commander of the Military Police, José Augusto Coutinho, now has the final say on whether or not to remove from the streets a police officer suspected of assault, corruption, or tampering with a crime scene.
Analysis:
The significant increase in deaths caused by the Military Police (PM) in São Paulo during the first half of 2024, particularly among on-duty officers, highlights serious concerns about the use of force and police accountability under the Tarcísio de Freitas administration. This rise, in conjunction with the decline in fatalities involving civil police officers, suggests differing dynamics within the state’s security forces.
The changes implemented by Public Security Secretary Guilherme Derrite, which centralize the decision-making power regarding the removal of officers involved in serious incidents, have further complicated the situation. These modifications may hinder prompt and unbiased investigations, potentially allowing misconduct to go unchecked.
