The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), confirmed the appointment of delegate Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves as the new state secretary of Public Security. Current number 2 in the department, Nico replaces Guilherme Derrite (PP), who leaves his position next Monday, the 1st, to resume his mandate as federal deputy and advance in political articulations with an eye on the Senate. The São Paulo government, in a statement, highlighted that Nico will be responsible for continuing the policies to combat organized crime and enhance the police forces.
Tarcísio’s decision ends an internal dispute over succession at SSP. Before the announcement, the most popular name was that of the Secretary of Penitentiary Administration, retired colonel Marcello Streifinger, considered a more discreet and technical profile within the Palácio dos Bandeirantes. Despite this, civil police officers pressed for the choice of Nico, who was already a member of the ministry’s leadership — a decisive move for his appointment.
Streifinger, who has commanded the largest state prison system in the country since 2023, was seen by the governor’s allies as a thoughtful person, linked to the resocialization of prisoners and capable of avoiding public crises. The dispute reflected not only different profiles, but also different political readings for a pre-election year in which security tends to dominate the debate.
With more than 40 years of career in the Civil Police, Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves occupied strategic positions: he headed the Anti-Kidnapping Police Station, commanded Deic, Garra, GOE — which he helped to found — and worked in high-profile cases, such as the kidnapping of Patrícia Abravanel, the arrest of Fabrício Queiroz and the capture of Chilean guerrilla Maurício Hernandez Norambuena, involved in the kidnapping of Washington Olivetto. The delegate also maintains strong traffic in the Civil and Military corporations, which bring together more than 120 thousand professionals, a factor that weighed on the government’s decision.
Derrite leaves office aiming for 2026
Guilherme Derrite’s departure will be made official on Monday, during the celebration of the anniversary of the 1st Shock Battalion (Rota). A pre-candidate for the Senate, he chose to bring forward his departure to resume legislative debates related to public security. Allies claim that Tarcísio supported the decision.
Derrite leaves the department after almost two years and with the goal of consolidating positive criminal indicators while trying to avoid wear and tear linked to episodes of police lethality. His farewell ceremony will have important presences, such as the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro (PL), and the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB).
