The office of the new Secretary of Public Security, Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves, 68, is filled with photos on the walls that show his media side. He himself does not hide that one of his favorite activities is to publicize the actions of the police, whether he is present or not.
Nico was appointed by Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) earlier this month, replacing federal deputy Guilherme Derrite (PP), who returned to office in Brasilia. A career civilian police officer, he is the first delegate to take charge of security in São Paulo. Unlike his predecessor, Nico seeks to present himself as a negotiator.
In just a few days in the chair, Nico has already found himself with a case of repercussions. The arrest of three military police officers who allegedly killed a suspect during a previously reported home robbery. The body cameras were analyzed by a superior of the trio, who identified irregularities.
Nico said he was in favor of the equipment, a discourse similar to that currently adopted by Derrite and Tarcísio, unlike what happened during the campaign, when the then government candidate expressed his opposition to the program implemented by the military police.
THE Leaf interviewed Nico on Thursday afternoon (18). The conversation had to be interrupted several times, due to the number of calls the secretary received on his cell phone. On the other side of the line, real-time information on city news.
Who is Nico Gonçalves, the new Secretary of Public Security of São Paulo?
If I get emotional, you don’t care. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a police officer. When I was 12, I lived near the 17th police district, in Ipiranga (south zone of the city of São Paulo). My mother bought a box of shoe polish and I shined shoes in front of the police station. Then, an investigator, who I will never forget, let me wash the vehicles so that he also received a box. From that time on, I knew I wanted to become a police officer. I think it worked because I’ve been here 45 years.
His room is full of photos with newspaper clippings…
I have more than 700 (video) tapes of old cases that I handled in the police. I have always liked to publicize what the police do. I have 145 tapes of cases where I negotiated the release of hostages. I always managed to free the hostage without firing a single shot. Still talking. My obligation was also to preserve the life of the hostage taker. Wandering itself called me, because I did what I said. My path has always been one of commitment to not letting them be intimidated.
Which police case most marked your career?
My first file as an investigator at the 17th DP. I entered the investigators’ room, they were questioning a boy who had been abused. His brother, aged 6, was killed by his attacker. He began to describe the attacker. I had this image in my head. It was already four o’clock in the afternoon. I remember my mother bringing me a snack at six o’clock. She didn’t want me to be a police officer (voice chokes). Then the police (from the seven o’clock shift) came and I said: I will work with you. I got in the car and sat in the back seat. Then I see a boy with the characteristics the boy mentioned. When they stopped the car at the light, I got out of the car. I went after. I held the guy. When he arrived at the police station door, the little boy said: this is the one who killed my brother. Then (journalist) Gil Gomes (1940-2018) wrote the article and from the second to the third day as a police officer, I became an attraction in the (Ipiranga) neighborhood.
What was Cracolândia’s dispersal strategy?
We had a lot of problems with traffic. We closed hotels that were used solely to accommodate evil people, who engaged in financial speculation. I will cite Léo do Moinho (Leonardo Monteiro Moja), arrested in 2024 on suspicion of drug trafficking in the Moinho favela), who owned properties here in the center. There were a lot of people who took it upon themselves, asked for help (from municipal social services), because we fought so hard (against drug trafficking) and left people drug-free here at the center.
Residents of the Moinho favela complained about the presence of drug trafficking, but they also complained about the brutal manner in which police entered the community.
We never want confrontation. But, sometimes, the police are greeted with stones, with these things, and if you don’t force their arrival, you will also be embarrassed, understand?
Is the end of Cracolândia, as it was, the greatest achievement of the Public Security Secretariat of this administration?
Yes. It was the biggest delivery.
During his first week as secretary, police officers were arrested for the death of an unarmed suspect in Moema, in the southern zone of São Paulo.
Sad, right? We had everything we needed to get 10 in this incident. We were on the trail of this gang who had invaded a house and tortured a family. But I don’t know why the policeman did such a thing. It’s not good. So much so that the Military Police Internal Affairs themselves observed the cameras and those responsible were charged.
But police lethality in the state has increased significantly. The number of people killed during clashes with the police increased from 418 in 2022 to 813 in 2024, according to the Secretariat of Public Security.
When we increase work, when we put more people on the street, when we carry out more operations, there will be more incidents. We don’t want a confrontation, but I don’t want the policeman to die either.
But the number of police deaths has doubled. Is this how it is or can it be changed?
It can be changed, but that’s what I told you, we don’t want confrontation. Yesterday, during an incident, we were negotiating the surrender (of the suspects) and then the person came out shooting at the police. The police must also be respected. I worked on the streets for over 30 years, I had few confrontations.
Some police officers, perhaps in the minority, obstruct body cameras…
This is not an orientation. So much so that the Department of Internal Affairs has access at any time to turn on the camera.
Are you in favor of body cameras?
I am for the camera. It protects the good police officer, you understand? Everywhere in the world, every police officer carries a camera. I am in favor. So much so that we bought more cameras.
Of the approximately 80,000 military police in São Paulo, how many use body cameras?
There are 11,000 cameras (the number was later corrected to 15,000 new cameras acquired by the current management).
If you could, would you enlarge it?
I’m going to enlarge it further.
For all staff?
This protects the good police officer. There are people who approach the camera and start insulting the police officer, who must be calm. Thus, it also protects the actions of the police officer. I think that a good police officer, who recorded everything, has nothing to hide.
Do you see the need to change criminal legislation?
Yes, in article 180 (offense of reception). If there is a thief, it is because there is a receiver. The other day we met a guy here with ten rings. He already knew who to sell to and we couldn’t stop the receiver because the law didn’t help him.
How come the law didn’t help?
Because the receiving crime has white feathers, it is difficult to subdue the arrested criminal. During a show like this, at a stadium like Pacaembu, people come and steal cell phones. They leave with 15 or 20 cell phones. We stop. In the next show, they are back. So if we manage to restrain the receiver, arrest him, the thief has no one to sell to.
Is the CCP the main security problem in São Paulo?
You can’t cheat, can you? But look what we did in Operation Shield and there was the recovery of the territory of Guarujá (Baixada Santista) after the death of soldier Patrick (Bastos dos Reis). Then everyone, the press, said that we carried out a revenge operation. We did not carry out a revenge operation. We have recovered a dominated territory. We were crucified for 40 days of operation. And the population is delighted with the operation. Whoever lives there (in Guarujá), vibrates.
The São Paulo Justice Court convicted 11 police officers for criminal organization in the case of Antonio Vinícius Gritzbach, executed at Guarulhos airport a year ago. How do you plan to combat police corruption and other irregular activities carried out by police officers, such as odd jobs?
I was the chairman of the task force charged with resolving the airport affair. 21 police officers were arrested. I think they chose to give a job to the wrong person. He (Gritzbach) is not a businessman at all. He was committing a crime, money laundering. Everyone was fired. Because the regulations are strong. And those who acted were our internal affairs bodies. This shows the transparency of the government. We have to cut the skin. It hurt like hell, but the company received a response.
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Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves, 68 years old
Admitted as a Civil Police investigator in 1980. Graduated in law, he is an official professor at the Police Academy. Before becoming secretary, he served as general delegate, the highest position in the institution. He was responsible for the creation of groups considered elite within the civilian police, such as the GOE (Special Operations Group) and the Dope (Department of Specialized Police Operations).
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