According to experts, ending the police force would not guarantee less violence.

Rachel Duarte - South 21 - The recommendation in the UN Human Rights Council report, released this Wednesday (30), calling for the end of military police in Brazil was considered superficial by experts and public security professionals in Brazil. The suggestion was made by Denmark, demanding a reduction in executions carried out by the Brazilian State. However, experts in the field consider that this measure would not solve the problem of police practice that reflects high rates of lethality, corruption and violation of human rights in Brazil.

The UN report emphasizes that Brazil needs to ensure that all crimes committed by law enforcement agents are investigated independently, in order to combat impunity for crimes that silence judges and human rights activists. In this respect, the Secretary-General of the Brazilian Forum on Public Security, Renato Sérgio de Lima, agrees with the international organization. "I am against Military Justice, but I do not advocate for the end of the entire institution. What needs to end, to avoid impunity for cases of human rights violations committed by some police officers, is Military Justice. However, advocating for the end of the Military Police impoverishes the debate on security and exempts the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Civil Police from their responsibilities," he believes.

According to Lima, it is not appropriate to fuel the debate about the ideal security model in Brazil by focusing solely on the elimination of uniformed police. "That's a superficial reading of the problem. We need to think about reforming the security model. We need to discuss what Brazil needs, starting with reflecting on how to organize the type of police we want. We have friction between the Military Police and the Civil Police, but the problem is not in just one of the institutions," he exemplifies.

Marcos Rolim, a consultant from Rio Grande do Sul specializing in Public Security and Human Rights, also agrees with the need for a public security reform, without abolishing the Military Police, as a solution to Brazil's problems. "Military police exist in Spain, Germany, and Chile. The challenge is to reform the Brazilian police, which has a divided cycle. Here is the only place in the world where patrolling and investigation are divided between two police forces. The model adopted in Brazil, where the Military Police does half the work and the Civil Police does the other half, is schizophrenic," he argues.

On the other hand, the challenge of police reform in Brazil, despite being evident to managers and politicians, is not being addressed, argues Rolim. "It is necessary to amend the Federal Constitution. The issue has been under debate for some time and is crucial for changing the security model," he says.

Reports and accusations of police brutality in Brazil are becoming increasingly exposed. However, sociologist Renato Sérgio de Lima believes that addressing the problem requires a deeper structural change. "These are abominable practices, but we cannot blame a single institution. We must have a more substantive reform to change this reality, involving reducing lethal force, improving investigations, combating police corruption, and guaranteeing the preservation of rights. We have to end the abuses by fighting the fragility of the security system as a whole," he explains.

Marcos Rolim, from Rio Grande do Sul, believes that police brutality and the number of people killed by officers in Brazil have international repercussions due to the contrast between the Brazilian security model and that of other nations. "The most consolidated democracies in the world have a much more civilized standard, and the treatment by the Brazilian police ends up causing astonishment. Police lethality is high in Brazil. The UN recommendation stems from this horror of lethality," he states.

According to Rolim, in Rio Grande do Sul the biggest problem is the abuse of force and authority by the Military Police. "The situation has worsened recently without an efficient response from the State," he criticizes. He believes that the role of the Military Police in visible policing makes them more exposed to situations where abuses can occur. "It's a larger police force that approaches people every day on the street. But the idea that the Civil Police is more efficient or democratic is not always true. There are reports of torture in Civil Police investigations. The abuse is not related to the type of police force, but rather to how the institutions are organized and do their work," he argues.

The president of the Antonio Mendes Filho Charitable Association (ABAMF), which represents soldiers of the Rio Grande do Sul Military Brigade, Leonel Lucas, argues that the training of military police officers in Brazil is outdated and reproduces a conservative methodology. "We have to change our methodology, not abolish the institution. Who will do the work we do? If we abolish the Military Police, other security agents will be taught the same methodology. I believe it's better to incorporate the UN's suggestions into our practice," he says. He adds: "Our teachings are outdated. The function of the police is to deal with people, to approach people. To do that, we have to invest in the training of police officers and in instructions to respect human rights, not spend the day marching, saluting, and cleaning their boots," he accuses.

According to the military police officer, encouraging training and restructuring police academies would be, instead of the end, a good new beginning for military institutions. "We need encouragement to study. To pursue higher education. The sergeant courses in Rio Grande do Sul include general service exercises, such as digging holes, carrying wood, and cleaning. How will that help us provide a good service to the community?" he asks.

The president of the Association of Sergeants, Sub-lieutenants, and Lieutenants of the Military Brigade, Aparício Costa Santellano, believes that the cases of abuse are isolated and not a common practice within the corporation. "We cannot generalize and assume that this is the methodology taught. It is not routine, and we do not condone the actions of officers in this way," he argues. He believes that improving public safety in Brazil requires increased government investment in the area. "Public safety cannot be achieved without significant investment. It is expensive. Society must understand this and demand that it happens," he emphasized.