The Military Police’s Internal Affairs Division conducted an operation on 7 November, targeting 22 military police officers. Teams executed arrest warrants and search and seizure orders in an investigation into alleged extortion and threats by officers against shopkeepers in Nova Iguaçu, in the Baixada Fluminense region. According to investigations, in addition to cash, the officers were caught collecting crates of beer and even fruit from establishments.
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54 Establishments
According to the report, officers extorted 54 establishments. The group involved in the scheme conducted what the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office describes as a “bribery tour,” visiting dozens of shops in succession to collect money illegally. PM spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Cláudia Moraes, indicated that the total amount collected through extortion is still unknown.
Always on Fridays
The bribe collections took place on specific days. Every Friday, the involved officers briefly stopped their patrol cars at the establishments. The amount was then handed over by someone or one of the officers would enter the business, staying just a few minutes before returning to the vehicle and leaving. Targets were generally recycling centers and scrap yards but also included gas distributors, construction stores, and others.
Crimes Not Recorded by Body Cameras
Lieutenant Colonel Cláudia Moraes explained how the officers circumvented the use of body cameras attached to their uniforms to avoid recording their crimes. According to the spokesperson, Rio de Janeiro has the highest number of active cameras in the country—13,000—and their use is mandated throughout the service. The investigation revealed that some officers avoided using the equipment by not activating it at the start of their shift, which raised suspicions. In May, O Globo reported that some officers cover or remove the cameras during actions. In three instances, officers were caught placing cameras inside vehicles or even storing the equipment in their pockets.
Cameras Reveal the ‘Bribery Tour’
With the assistance of the body cameras, the Military Police Internal Affairs Division and the Public Prosecutor’s Office uncovered the bribery scheme. Investigators obtained several dialogues recorded by the accused officers’ body cameras. In one such dialogue, a military police sergeant mocks the monitoring capabilities of the cameras, suggesting it is impossible to monitor the entire force. In a recorded conversation, the sergeant states: “They watch in sampling mode; they can’t monitor fifty thousand, twenty thousand, or even ten thousand officers.”
New Contract
On 13 November, the Rio Military Police formalized the renewal of the contract for body cameras (COPs) used by officers in the field. The amendment provides for the L8 Group to continue supplying the cameras, storing footage, and maintaining the equipment. Among the updates in the new agreement is an extension of storage time from 60 to 90 days for all recorded footage. The company will also supply new batteries and an improved system for affixing the cameras to officers’ uniforms. Additionally, a monitoring system will be installed in all locations where charging stations are present. These internal images can be accessed in real-time by the PM command and will be stored for two months.
Analysis:
The recent operation by the Military Police Internal Affairs Unit against 22 officers involved in extortion in Baixada Fluminense raises essential questions about the effectiveness of internal controls and the limitations of technology in monitoring police activities. While body cameras did uncover the bribery scheme, the operation also exposed critical gaps in the surveillance system.
Reports that officers were bypassing cameras use underscore the need for stricter oversight and additional mechanisms to ensure that technology is applied through transparency and accountability protocols. Despite these technological advances, the potential for tampering with equipment remains a significant challenge that must be addressed to establish reliable use of body cameras.
Meanwhile, planned improvements, including extending image storage to 90 days and adding surveillance to loading points—are positive steps. These enhancements aim to tighten control over equipment usage and deter illicit practices. However, technology alone is insufficient. To restore public trust, an integrated approach is crucial, involving stronger internal oversight, ethics training for officers, and the use of intelligence to proactively identify and respond to deviant behavior.
