Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) sanctioned, on Friday (13/06), the Complementary Bill (PLC) that regulates the use of weapons by the Municipal Guard and creates an elite division within the institution. The measure, however, is largely a formality, as Paes had already announced and launched the selection process for the group even before the proposal was approved by the Rio City Council. On Tuesday (10/06), city councilors definitively approved, in an extraordinary session, the law that regulates the actions of the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Guard with the use of firearms, a practice previously authorized in another bill passed in April.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
Elite Division
One of the main changes approved relates to the retention of the institution’s name. Initially, the city government planned to rename the organization as the Municipal Security Force. However, city councilors stated that a legal opinion from the City Attorney General’s Office recommended keeping the current name, as it is defined in the Federal Constitution. The bill provides for the creation of an elite division within the Municipal Guard, to be called the Municipal Force. This unit will be composed of guards selected through an internal recruitment process, as well as temporary agents.
Full-time weapons
An amendment added during the discussions requires armed agents to wear body cameras that continuously record their actions throughout their shifts. Another approved amendment ensures that agents will be allowed to carry firearms at all times, even outside of working hours, similar to the policy in place for Military Police officers. The original proposal only permitted carrying weapons while on duty, but council members argued that agents would be vulnerable if unarmed after their shifts.
A call for applications has already been released.
Before the bill was officially approved, Mayor Eduardo Paes had already announced the opening of the application process for selecting guards who would join the armed division.According to the mayor, selected agents will undergo six months of training and will be responsible for daily policing on the city’s streets. The expectation is that the first group of armed agents will begin patrols in early 2026.
Analysis:
The formal approval of the Complementary Bill regulating the use of firearms by Rio’s Municipal Guard marks a significant shift in the city’s public security policy. While the legislation primarily formalizes actions already taken by Mayor Eduardo Paes, including the launch of a selection process, it reflects a broader national trend of expanding the responsibilities and operational capacity of municipal guards. The creation of an elite division within the Guard, along with full-time weapon-carrying rights, aligns the institution more closely with military and state police forces, raising important questions about training, oversight, and role definition.
The decision to allow off-duty firearm carrying and require continuous body camera use suggests an attempt to balance operational readiness with transparency. While body cameras can serve as a tool for accountability, their effectiveness depends heavily on how data is stored, and reviewed, and whether there are clear disciplinary protocols in case of abuse.
