The São Paulo Military Police officially announced a change in its leadership on Thursday (17/04). Colonel Cássio Araújo de Freitas, who had held the position since January 2023, will retire. He will be replaced by Colonel José Augusto Coutinho, previously the deputy commander of the corporation. With Coutinho’s promotion, Colonel Erick Gomes Bento, currently Chief of Staff of the PM General Command, will assume the role of deputy commander.
Background
Colonel Coutinho has served as deputy commander of the São Paulo Military Police since early 2024. Prior to this, he held various leadership roles, including commander of the Riot Police, the 1st Tobias de Aguiar Riot Police Battalion (Rota), the 4th Riot Police Battalion – Special Operations, and Chief of Staff of the Riot Police Command.
Military Police Kill More in 2024
Coutinho assumes command during a period of heightened police lethality. In 2024, 760 people were killed by military police officers in São Paulo—a 65% increase compared to 2023, which saw 460 deaths resulting from police intervention. Of these 2024 cases, 640 were caused by on-duty officers, while 120 involved off-duty personnel. The data was released by the Special Task Force for Public Security and External Control of Police Activity (Gaesp), part of the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office. Police lethality has been a major issue during Governor Tarcísio de Freitas’ administration, particularly due to high-profile operations in Baixada Santista, such as Operation Escudo (2023) and Operation Verão (2024).
2022
In contrast, under Governor Rodrigo Garcia’s (DEM) administration in 2022, São Paulo recorded its lowest number of deaths by on-duty police officers. This drop was largely attributed to the expansion of the Olho Vivo program, which equipped PM officers with body cameras. That year, adolescent mortality in police interventions fell by 80.1%.
VideosIn July 2023, Colonel Cássio Araújo de Freitas shared a video on the corporation’s social media encouraging officers not to hesitate during operations. The video was posted on the same day a retired PM was found dead in Itapecerica da Serra, Greater São Paulo. According to Samira Bueno, director of the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP), the message may have encouraged more lethal behavior among PM officers.
Analysis:
The appointment of Colonel José Augusto Coutinho as the new commander of the São Paulo Military Police comes at a critical juncture marked by a sharp rise in police lethality. With 760 deaths caused by military police in 2024—representing a 65% increase from the previous year—Coutinho inherits a force under intense scrutiny. His extensive background in elite units such as Rota and Special Operations suggests a command style likely to further intensify concerns over excessive use of force unless paired with clear directives on accountability and proportionality in police actions.
The shift in leadership also reflects broader political and institutional dynamics. The rise in lethal encounters aligns with the law-and-order rhetoric of Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, particularly during major operations like Escudo and Verão.
