RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 24 — The governor of Rio de Janeiro has vetoed a controversial proposal that would have awarded bonuses to police officers for killing “criminals,” a move that had sparked widespread criticism from human rights advocates in Brazil.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 24 — The governor of Rio de Janeiro has vetoed a controversial proposal that would have awarded bonuses to police officers for killing “criminals,” a move that had sparked widespread criticism from human rights advocates in Brazil.
State lawmakers approved the plan in September, offering bonuses of up to 150 per cent of officers’ monthly salaries. The proposal triggered outrage in a region already troubled by frequent reports of police brutality, particularly in poor neighbourhoods controlled by criminal gangs.
The initiative, nicknamed the “Wild West Bonus,” drew comparisons to a similar 1990s programme that was abolished after a surge in police-related killings.
During protests against the measure last month, Priscila Menezes recalled how her 13-year-old son, Thiago, was fatally shot by military police in 2023 while riding his motorbike in the Cidade de Deus favela, the neighbourhood made famous by the film City of God.
Police initially claimed Thiago was an armed criminal, but investigations later revealed that officers had planted a weapon on him.
“My son was killed for nothing. Those officers didn’t even get paid to kill him — imagine what would happen if they started receiving bonuses for it,” said Menezes, 35.
Heavy-handed police raids are common in Rio’s favelas, areas marked by vibrant communities but also plagued by violent crime. At least four major criminal factions are currently fighting for control of territory, with roughly 20 per cent of the metropolitan area under their influence, according to watchdog group Fogo Cruzado.
Policing these dense urban areas remains highly dangerous for officers, underscoring Rio’s complex security challenges.
The governor’s veto followed warnings from the public prosecutor’s office that the measure was unconstitutional and breached Brazil’s international human rights obligations.
So far in 2024, around 700 people have been killed in police operations across Rio de Janeiro, 86 per cent of whom were Black, according to official figures.
Governor Claudio Castro — an ally of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro — said he rejected the proposal primarily because it would be too costly, his office told AFP.
The state legislature still has the power to attempt an override of the veto. — AFP
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