Even before the second vote on the Complementary Bill in the City Council — which regulates the activities of armed municipal agents within the future Municipal Security Force — Mayor Eduardo Paes published, in the Official Gazette on Wednesday (04/06), the selection notice for the formation of the Elite Division of the Municipal Guard. The notice is exclusively directed at municipal guards already serving in the corporation. A total of 600 internal vacancies will be opened. The new uniform of the troops was also presented in the official publication.
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Approved Bill
The bill, approved in the first round of voting in the City Council, also authorizes the hiring of temporary agents. However, this measure still needs to go through a second vote and be sanctioned by the mayor. The expected salary for members of the armed municipal agents — both permanent and temporary — is R$13,033.00. Municipal guards will be able to join the special unit through an internal selection process. Those selected will undergo a specific training course focused on ostentatious and armed patrolling in public spaces. The training includes actions aimed at preventing and combating crimes such as theft and robbery in public areas.
Elite Division
Named the Elite Division of the Municipal Guard – Municipal Force, the new troop will consist of trained and armed agents who will operate in both ostensible and community policing roles. Successful candidates will undertake a training program that includes technical, theoretical, and practical modules on the use of firearms. The operational details of this force, including the regulation of its actions, depend on the approval of the Complementary Bill in a second vote. Only then will the scope of action for the armed municipal guards be officially defined.
More Details
The legislation does not specify the type of weapons to be used, nor does it mention the use of body cameras. The Security Force will have the authority to make arrests in flagrante delicto and will be led by a chief director appointed by the mayor. Two internal affairs departments will be established: one for the Security Force as a whole and another for the new armed division. These departments will be responsible for investigating any potential disciplinary infractions.
Diverse Opinions
The proposal continues to divide opinion among city council members and public security experts. Critics argue that it could lead to overlapping responsibilities with the Military Police and question the effectiveness of an armed municipal guard in confrontation scenarios.
Analysis:
The creation of the Elite Division of the Municipal Guard — formally referred to as the Municipal Force — marks a significant shift in the role of municipal public security in Rio de Janeiro. While the initiative aims to increase the city’s capacity to combat street crimes such as theft and robbery, its implementation raises critical concerns from a public security standpoint.
From an operational perspective, the decision to arm municipal guards and deploy them in ostensive policing roles brings potential benefits, particularly in areas with high rates of property crime and limited state police presence. However, the lack of clear guidelines on key aspects — such as the type of firearms to be used and the absence of mandatory body cameras — raises red flags regarding transparency, accountability, and the use of force.
Moreover, the legislation’s silence on coordination mechanisms with the Military Police introduces the risk of jurisdictional overlap and operational conflict, particularly in densely populated and complex urban territories like Rio de Janeiro.
Sources: O Globo; A Folha de SP; G1.
