Although ADPF (Action for Noncompliance with a Fundamental Precept) 635 is still in force, which, theoretically, would limit the number of police operations in Rio’s favelas throughout the pandemic, The numbers of violence in Greater Rio increased in 2021 when compared to 2020 data.
According to a survey by the Fogo Cruzado Institute, of the 4,653 shootings recorded in the year, 1,354 of them (29%) took place during police actions and operations. The number represents a 15% increase compared to 2020, which concentrated 1,177 of these occurrences.
Fogo Cruzado reported in its Annual Report that, on average, there were 13 shootings per day throughout 2021, an increase of 1% compared to 2020, when 4,585 shootings were recorded. Of the 2,098 people shot in the Metropolitan Region of Rio, 1,084 died. The number represents a 21% increase over the number of people killed in 2020.
The institute also counted the number of massacres in the Metropolitan Region of Rio, which encompasses 21 municipalities in the state. There were 66 deaths last year with 255 deaths, compared to 44 occurrences in 2020. An increase of 39%. In 46 of them, there was a police action/operation with 195 dead. In 2020, of the 44 massacres, 33 took place in police actions and operations. There were 170 deaths in total, 134 of which in massacres with a police operation in progress.
The biggest of the massacres recorded, which was also the day on which there was the highest number of deaths in Grande Rio last year, was the operation in Jacarezinho, in which 29 people were killed, one of them a civil police officer.
Another point highlighted by the Fogo Cruzado Annual Report was armed violence against security agents. Last year, 181 of these professionals were shot in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro.
The numbers include civil, military, federal police, municipal guards, penitentiary agents, firefighters and military personnel from the armed forces (active, retired and retired). Of those shot, 82 died, 51 on duty, 36 off duty and 1 retired/exonerated. The number represents an increase of 52% among the dead and 13% among the injured, compared to the year 2020.
For Cecília Olliveira, executive director of the Fogo Cruzado Institute, the numbers corroborate the lack of effective public safety planning in Rio de Janeiro.
Public safety has always been treated with denialism. This is the everyday life of public safety. Data, analysis and studies have been ignored for a long time. It is difficult for us to have any return in public safety if it is not treated with due seriousness, based on evidence and intelligence. The number of police officers killed is also an indication of this lack of planning. When there is a planned action, with prior study, the policeman’s life is spared, the resident’s life is spared. The absence of a public security plan victimizes the security agent himself.
Cecília Olliveira, executive director of the Fogo Cruzado Institute
The director of Fogo Cruzado also highlighted that at the beginning of ADPF 635, in June 2020, it was more effective, but from the beginning of 2021, it gradually lost support and was “disrespected”.
“In early 2021 it becomes increasingly clear. Until the Jacarezinho massacre, which was the apex of disrespect for the ADPF, arrives. The Public Prosecutor’s Office was not immediately notified, later it was noted at the press conference that the police had made statements questioning the Supreme Court and the legality of the proposed action,” he said.
The Arguição de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental (ADPF) 635 – the so-called ADPF das Favelas, determines that, “under penalty of civil and criminal liability, police operations will not be carried out during the Covid-19 epidemic, except in absolutely exceptional cases, which must be duly justified in writing by the competent authority, with immediate communication to the MPRJ”. The decision has been in effect since June 2020.
In May of last year, the ADPF went to trial in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to determine whether it would continue in force. So far, the measures and restrictions are in effect due to an injunction, granted in June 2020. The judgment is to definitively decide whether such determinations by the ADPF will continue to be valid. However, the trial was adjourned on three occasions. It is currently scheduled to take place on February 2nd.
Other data
- By age group: Last year, 17 children (under 12 years of age), 43 adolescents (between 12 and 17 years old) and 33 elderly people (from 60 years of age) were shot in the Metropolitan Region of Rio. Of these, four children, 15 adolescents and 13 elderly people died. In 2020, 22 children, 40 adolescents and 34 elderly people were shot, with eight children, 18 adolescents and 19 elderly people dying;
- Lost bullets: Of the 116 stray bullet victims in Grande Rio, 24 died and 92 were injured. Among the victims, 63 were hit in police actions or operations, resulting in 15 dead and 48 injured. In comparison with 2020, the number of deaths fell by 4% and the number of injuries by 5%;
- Attack against politicians: There were 12 attacks against politicians registered in the Metropolitan Region of Rio, in 2021. Of the 10 politicians shot, nine died. In 2020, there were 14 attacks that left eight politicians shot, seven of whom died;
- Health units: According to the Fogo Cruzado report, “of the 4,653 shootings/firearms that occurred in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, 1,510 of them (32%) occurred within a radius of 300 meters from the health unit. On average, there were four shootings a day near these units, one of them during a police action. Of the 4,190 health units present in the Metropolitan Region of Rio, 1,688 of them were affected by shootings in their surroundings”.
In a note sent to CNN, the Secretary of State for Civil Police (Sepol) of Rio de Janeiro reported that “all operations of the current management are based on the pillars of intelligence, investigation and action, and comply with the decisions of ADPF 635”.
“In addition, police actions have achieved a constant reduction in the rates of violence recorded by the Public Security Institute (ISP), with results, in some sectors, that are the best since the beginning of the historical series.”
The Press Office of the Secretary of State for the Military Police informed, also through a note, that the actions carried out by the corporation are strictly in line with what advocates ADPF 635 of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
“Transparent and protected by the legislation in force, the operations are preceded by information from the intelligence sector of the Corporation and official bodies, being carried out based on technical protocols with a central focus on the preservation of lives – of the local population and military police involved in the action,” the note reads.
See the full note from the press office of the Secretary of State for Military Police:
The Press Office of the Secretary of State for the Military Police informs that the actions carried out by the Corporation are strictly in line with what advocates ADPF 635 of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Transparent and protected by current legislation, operations are preceded by information from the Corporation’s intelligence sector and official bodies, being carried out based on technical protocols with a central focus on preserving lives – of the local population and military police involved in the action. .
In addition to being communicated in advance, the State Public Ministry receives reports on the results of operations, as it can follow them in real time through an application developed for this purpose.
Our military police officers are constantly trained and prepared to act safely. In this sense, the Corporation makes systematic efforts to reduce police victimization.
The actions of the Military Police have contributed significantly to the expressive and continuous reduction of the most impacting criminal indicators, both crimes against life and crimes against property. We emphasize that the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro alone seized 6,278 firearms, including 288 rifles, throughout 2021, in addition to having made 33,052 arrests and 3,999 arrests of teenagers.
Reference: CNN Brasil
