A video released on Tuesday (15) by the 9th Special Police Action Battalion (Baep), from São José do Rio Preto (SP), generated intense repercussion on social networks and was removed after showing military police with extended arms, in a gesture similar to Nazi greeting.
The recording, published on the official profile of the battalion, also displays a candle trail and a burning cross – symbols already used by supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan in the United States. The video became viral, generating criticism from netizens and raising questions about the meaning of the ceremony.
In a note sent to the portal G1members of the corporation stated that the intention was only to symbolize the overcoming of physical and psychological limits faced by the police during training, noting that there was no intention to associate the act with political, racial or religious ideologies.
PM opens investigation and prosecution follows the case
The São Paulo Military Police reported having instituted an internal procedure to investigate the facts. “The PM is a legalistic institution and repudiates any manifestation of intolerance. It does not condone with deviations of conduct and reinforces that any manifestation that contradicts its values will be strictly determined,” the corporation said in an official note.
The Public Prosecution Service of São Paulo (MP-SP) is also following the case. Attorney General Paulo Sérgio de Oliveira and Costa said the local prosecution has already requested explanations from the Battalion. “If a deviation of conduct is proved, the necessary measures will be taken to punish the Military Police agents,” the agency said.
Political repercussion and silence of the state government
The episode reverberated in the political environment, especially among critics of Governor Tarcisio de Freitas (Republicans). Until the publication of this report, neither the governor nor the state secretary of Public Security, Guilherme Derrite, had publicly spoken out about the case.
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On Tuesday night, Tarcisio attended a ceremony at the Bandeirantes Palace, which was attended by the cross used at the first mass celebrated in Brazil, 525 years ago, without mentioning the controversy involving the PM Battalion.
