'We will have to hold more protests so that the population has security'

Despite the strike called by unions representing public security workers, policing in the capital city proceeded with apparent normality; according to Leonel Lucas, president of the Antônio Mendes Filho Beneficent Association (Abamf), an organization representing mid-level officers of the Military Police (BM), at least five PM battalions in Porto Alegre had their entrances blocked by representatives of BM unions and family members of police officers. Statewide, the number reached 42; "We'll have to hold demonstrations more often for the population to have security," he quipped.

August 04, 2016, 19:06 PMUpdated May 28, 2019, 08:46 AM

Despite the strike called by unions representing public security workers, policing in the capital city proceeded in apparent normality; according to Leonel Lucas, president of the Antônio Mendes Filho Beneficent Association (Abamf), an entity representing mid-level officers of the Military Brigade (BM), at least five PM battalions in Porto Alegre had their entrances blocked by representatives of BM unions and family members of brigade officers. Statewide, the number reached 42; "We'll have to hold demonstrations more often for the population to have security," he quipped (Photo: Leonardo Lucena).

Luís Eduardo Gomes, On the 21 - Despite the strike called by the unions of public security workers, policing in the Capital proceeded in apparent normality on the morning of this Thursday (4).

According to Leonel Lucas, president of the Antônio Mendes Filho Beneficent Association (Abamf), an entity that represents mid-level officers of the Military Brigade (BM), at least five Military Police battalions in Porto Alegre had their entrances blocked by representatives of BM unions and family members of brigade officers. Statewide, the number is estimated to reach 42.

He considered the outcome of the strike to be positive, but noted that the BM command brought in police officers and vehicles from the interior and even used a helicopter to help with patrolling this morning and contain the movement. "We'll have to hold demonstrations more often for the population to feel safe," he quipped.

On the other hand, Lieutenant Colonel Najara Santos da Silva, who is in charge of the Capital Policing Command, stated that the Military Police were operating normally this morning. "The personnel went out on the streets as usual," she said.

Najara acknowledged that there are demonstrations in front of barracks and battalions, but that, in general, officers and vehicles have not been prevented from going out into the streets. She emphasized that the command has engaged in dialogue with the police officers to ensure the normality of the situation.

The lieutenant colonel also said that no officers were brought in from the interior of the state to assist in policing the capital this Thursday, and that police officers from other cities are in Porto Alegre because of Operation Avante.

In interview with Radio Guaíba Earlier, the commander-general of the Military Brigade (BM), Colonel Alfeu Freitas, had stated that the corporation was operating with the planned personnel on Thursday and that the practice of deploying agents and vehicles outside the barracks in advance had been adopted. The Arena do Grêmio, which hosts a Brazilian Championship match on Thursday night, is one of the locations that had police officers deployed in advance.