Police Killings in São Paulo Rise for Third Consecutive Year

The number of deaths committed by military police officers on duty in São Paulo grew in 2025, according to data from the Special Public Security and External Police Activity Control Action Group (Gaesp). This marks the third consecutive year of increasing police lethality under the administration of Governor Tarcísio de Freitas.

Throughout 2025, there were 672 deaths caused by military police officers on duty, compared to 653 in 2024. This represents an increase of approximately 3%. When including deaths committed by officers off duty, the total reached 776 in 2025, a figure similar to the 780 total recorded in 2024.

Despite the stability of the overall total, the data indicates a shift in the profile of police lethality. There has been a specific growth in deaths occurring during the officers' working hours, when they are required to use body cameras. This trend follows two previous years of significant increases:

• 2024: A 65% increase compared to 2023.
• 2022: The lowest number of deaths on duty in the historical series, coinciding with the expansion of continuous recording body cameras.

The increase in lethal force was more pronounced in the second half of 2025. This period coincided with the start of the implementation of the new body camera model for the Military Police. Unlike the equipment adopted by previous administrations, these cameras no longer record continuously.

According to the Public Ministry, the difference between the first half of 2024 (306 deaths) and the second half of 2025 (366 deaths) represents a growth of nearly 20% in on-duty killings. Additionally, the number of deaths committed by officers off duty reached 104, the lowest in the historical series that began in 2017, suggesting that a larger proportion of killings are occurring during work hours.

Following an agreement homologated by the Supreme Court (STF) in May, the government began deploying the new cameras in June. By the end of 2025, 11,973 Portable Operational Cameras (COPs) had been installed in over 80 battalions and commands, prioritizing areas with higher risk.

While the state government has proceeded with the deployment, Conectas, an organization that participated in the STF agreement, has raised concerns regarding transparency. The organization stated it has not had access to the camera usage protocols, criteria for accessing images, or indicators created to monitor the new policy.

Carolina Diniz, Coordinator of the Program to Combat Institutional Violence at Conectas, commented on the lack of access: "Civil society did not have access to the camera usage protocol, the protocol for access and use of images formed with the Public Defender's Office, or the indicators produced to monitor the new policy. It was not something transparent and that allows for the monitoring and social control of a public policy as important as body cameras."

She also expressed fears that the new format has lost the inhibitory effect that continuous recording provided. In response, the Secretariat of Public Security stated that the Military Police published a specific ordinance establishing clear guidelines for camera use, reiterating the mandatory use in police actions and the responsibility of agents to maintain adequate recording conditions.

The Public Defender's Office confirmed its participation in the protocol's preparation and receipt of the first quarterly report in November 2025. In December, the Office designated representatives for the Paritary Commission of Control and Fiscalization to monitor the agreement.

Rafael Alcadipani, a professor at FGV and member of the Brazilian Forum on Public Security, believes the increase in deaths is not solely related to the camera model but to the absence of a consistent policy of command, supervision, and accountability. "The police must perceive that it is not the government's interest, that the government does not support this type of action," he stated.

He further noted that high levels of lethal force indicate structural problems. "When you have high lethality, that means a lack of professionalization of the security force. This erodes the professionalism of the forces in the long term."

The Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) emphasized that all deaths resulting from police intervention are rigorously investigated. The Secretariat noted that since 2023, more than 1,200 agents have been arrested, fired, or expelled for misconduct. The SSP also highlighted investments in technology and training, including the incorporation of over 3,500 non-lethal weapons.