São Paulo Governor Decorates Officer Who Killed Thief, Defying Military Police Guidelines

05/14/2018 - 12h21

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GUILHERME SETO

ROGÉRIO PAGNAN

SÍLVIA HAIDAR

FROM SÃO PAULO

São Paulo Governor Márcio França (PSB) held a ceremony on Mother's Day, Sunday, decorating a Military Police officer, and mother, who shot and killed a thief, adopting a strategy that defies Military Police guidelines that seek to reduce the police department's murder rate.

Mr. França, who is seeking re-election, decorated Corporal Katia da Silva Sastre, 42. Officer Sastre reacted to a robbery that was being carried out near the front entrance of a private school in Suzano - in the metropolitan region of São Paulo - by shooting the perpetrator three times. He later died in the hospital.

The governor made a point of highlighting the officer's course of action and praised her for her courage - she was off duty at the time of the robbery. According to public security specialists, the decoration of Officer Sastre may send a misleading message to both the police force and to society.

One concern is that it may encourage people to confront criminals, which goes against police guidelines. Another concern is that it may lead people to interpret that the government commends the killing of thieves.

REPRODUCAO/TV RECORD, NAS RUAS Officer Sastre reacted to a robbery that was being carried out near the front entrance of a private school in Suzano

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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