Update to Brazil’s military police charter misses the mark

The Senate Public Security Committee approved last week a new military police charter, seen by critics as a wasted opportunity to improve public security, and more of an appeasement to corporatist demands of the so-called “bullet caucus.”

Approved by the House floor in late 2022, the bill is the first federal piece of legislation concerning state-level police forces since 1969. Drafted by lawmakers who used to serve in the police themselves, the text enshrines 37 benefits for police officers, such as keeping gun permits after retirement, entitlement to judicial assistance before any court, life insurance, a health plan for family members, and the guarantee that families get to cash their paychecks should an officer be in prison.

The bill was originally drafted over 20 years ago by the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration (1995-2002). The text was much slimmer, with 25 articles instead of the current 44. Also, it initially gave the police 14 benefits instead of 37. 

Congressman Alberto Fraga, a former police officer himself and a founding father of the so-called “bullet caucus” in the House, was the bill’s first rapporteur, responsible for the text that is actually taken to a vote. 

The bill did not gather steam. It moved slowly through committees over the years, only reaching the House floor late last year, after the 2022 presidential election — under a new rapporteur, Capitão Augusto, also a former police officer. 

Early in 2021, off-the-record accounts reported that the military police charter would include some scary provisions, such as stripping governors from autonomy to nominate the police chiefs — having them pick from a...