Military police officers on duty have killed at least 663 people throughout the state of São Paulo throughout this year, according to data from the Special Public Security Action Group (Gaesp), which provides external oversight over police activity from the São Paulo Public Ministry (MPSP).
The partial report, updated until December 19, exceeds the number of homicides committed by PMs on duty over the whole of 2024, marked by an explosion in cases. There were 653 deaths, almost 300 more than the 2023 total of 375. This year, the number of homicides remained at a high level thanks to the 171 deaths recorded in October and November.
Deaths of PM on duty in the state of SP:
- 2025 – 663 (until 12/19)
- 2024 – 653
- 2023 – 375
- 2022 – 262
Tarcísio recognized a security crisis
Last year, the explosion in the number of deaths and emblematic cases of violence committed by police officers led Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) to recognize the existence of a crisis within the company.
He even spoke of “rethinking” the police. Behind the scenes, there was pressure to replace Guilherme Derrite (PP), then Security Secretary, who remained in post until early December this year. Derrite resumed his mandate as a federal deputy.
15 images
Close modal.
1 in 15
Kaique da Silva Coutinho, known as “Chip”, is named as the author of the shots that killed soldier Cosmo, from Rota.
Disclosure/SSP2 of 15
Private Samuel Wesley Cosmo, in the Rota Battalion in the capital of São Paulo
Reproduction/Social networks3 of 15
A soldier from Rota is the second prime minister killed on the coast of São Paulo this year
Reproductive social networks4 out of 15
Kennedy Cosmo and Samuel Wesley Cosmo
Reproduction5 of 15
São Paulo Military Police officer Samuel Wesley Cosmo, soldier assigned to the Rondas Ostensivas Tobias Aguiar (Rota)
Reproduction6 of 15
Family asks for donations from widow and daughters of slain Rota soldier
Reproduction/Social networks7 out of 15Reproduction/PMSP8 out of 15Reproduction/PMSP9 out of 15Reproduction/PMSP10 out of 15Reproduction/PMSP11 of 1512 of 15Reproduction/PMSP13 out of 15Reproduction/PMSP14 out of 15Reproduction/PMSP15 out of 15Reproduction/PMSP
In 2025, despite maintaining a high mortality rate, the pressure on Tarcísio’s public security policy has decreased. However, the management faced criticism related to videos in which police officers were caught executing people surrendering, such as the homeless Jeferson de Souza, under a bridge in central São Paulo, and the young Igor Oliveira, who died on his way to Paraisópolis.
In these cases, the Security Secretariat has limited itself to saying that it “does not approve of the misconduct” and that the police officers involved would be subject to an internal investigation and would be dismissed from their posts.
PM disabled
Unlike what happened with the number of deaths committed by on-duty military police, the 2025 partial indicates that homicides involving off-duty police officers are unlikely to reach the level recorded in 2024. Last year, there were 127, the highest number since 2022. As of December 19, the Gaesp panel indicated 104 homicides.
- 2025 – 104 (partial)
- 2024 – 127
- 2023 – 106
- 2022 – 134
- 2021 – 120
- 2020 – 126
- 2019 – 121
Asked by Metropolises Throughout the year, regarding episodes of police violence, the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) repeatedly stated that it “does not tolerate reprehensible behavior” and that all deaths committed by police officers are investigated under the control of the Department of Internal Affairs and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Furthermore, specifies the ministry, in all cases commissions are created to identify “non-conformities”.
Disarmed and shot in the back
In June this year, the special report A Política da Bala, by Metropolisescarried out an x-ray of deaths committed by on-duty and off-duty military police officers in the city of São Paulo in 2024. The article showed that, of the 246 victims, at least 85 did not have a firearm and that in 66% of the incidents, only the police fired.
Analysis of 143 autopsy reports of the victims showed that 47 people were shot at least once in the back, while 38 people were shot in the head and neck, contradicting the prime minister’s ideal method of action. There were more than 1,700 shots fired, including 459 against unarmed people, during these incidents, according to statements by the police themselves and reports from the Institute of Forensic Science (IC).
About The Author
