Police lethality increases by 29% in February in São Paulo.

Agency Brazil - In February of this year, the state of São Paulo registered a 29% increase in deaths caused by civil and military police officers, compared to 2022. According to data published in the Friday (31) edition of Official State GazetteA significant portion of the homicides occurred outside of police operations. The data comes from the Military Police Internal Affairs Department and the General Internal Affairs Department of the Civil Police.

Six people were killed in February by on-duty civilian police officers and 24 by on-duty military police officers. According to the publication, in that month, seven people were victims of off-duty military police officers, reinforcing the hypothesis that these officers did not engage in confrontations with criminals and that the deaths may have resulted from other circumstances, such as disagreements. In a similar context, one person was killed by a civilian police officer.

Only one homicide in February, committed by a Military Police officer, was considered intentional, meaning there was intent to kill.

When analyzing the months of January 2022 and January 2023, the growth is 23%. Most of the victims died at the hands of on-duty military police officers (23). Off-duty military police officers appear in second place as the perpetrators of homicides, with a total of 13 cases. Lastly, there are off-duty police officers who committed one murder, indicated by the General Inspectorate of the corporation as intentional.

The trend, when comparing 2021 with 2022, was downward. In January 2021, 62 cases were counted. The following month, there were 70.

Psychological investigations and care

O official diary It also provides details about referrals of military and civil police officers to psychologists who provide services to the corporations. In the case of the Civil Police, the publication reports that no officer has received care. As for the Military Police (PM), it is noteworthy that 305 officers are participating in the Support and Monitoring Program this year.

The publication also includes information on proceedings initiated to investigate the homicides. Within the Civil Police, 18 police reports were filed, in addition to 52 investigations, 27 administrative inquiries, and 20 administrative proceedings being opened.

In the Military Police, the number of inquiries and investigations is higher: 209 and 293, respectively. In total, 14 disciplinary councils and two justification councils were issued, and five administrative disciplinary proceedings are underway.

Cameras and the Judiciary

According to researcher Dennis Pacheco, from the Brazilian Forum for Public Security, the cameras attached to officers' uniforms have helped to deter police abuses, even though their use is limited to working hours and they do not capture illegal acts that occur during off-duty periods. "The cameras have proven effectiveness. So, it is clear that maintaining the policy is important," says Pacheco.

The researcher criticizes, however, the conduct of the Judiciary, saying that the proper punishment of police authorities who have committed abuses depends on it. Pacheco adds that instruments such as the ombudsman's office, which produces research and analyzes incidents, contribute to enabling the population to monitor cases and demand action.

"In a survey we conducted, we discovered that more than 90% of cases of police lethality in the state of São Paulo were filed away," reports Pacheco. "There is a certain leniency on the part of the public authorities regarding cases of lethality caused by police officers."

Other side

When questioned by Agência Brasil about the data on police lethality in February, the Public Security Secretariat responded that deaths resulting from police intervention should not be "equated" with incidents resulting in death on duty, because they have different dynamics. "There are various situations in which an off-duty police officer may intervene. For example, when officers are victims and act in their own defense, or in defense of their family, or when the officer acts in defense of third parties, upon witnessing a criminal act. Deaths of suspects that occur on duty, however, result from actions in which police officers are acting in the best interests of society. Confrontation is not a choice of the police officer, because when it occurs, the officer is always the first victim," says a note from the secretariat. In the text, the secretariat adds that all cases are analyzed by the police institutions, rigorously investigated by the internal affairs department, reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office, and judged by the courts.

"Furthermore, the officers have the support of equipment and constant training. Incidents are investigated by the Civil Police and by a specialized division of the PM's Internal Affairs Department, the 'PM Victim Division', responsible for monitoring and acting to clarify crimes against police officers," he concludes.