Commanders of the Military Police of the State of São Paulo have been knocking on the doors of state deputies’ offices asking for funds to purchase work items. Right-wing and left-wing parliamentarians confirmed to the column that they have been contacted.
Internally, Palácio dos Bandeirantes views the requests as indiscipline. According to sources linked to Tarcisio de Freitas (Republicans), the resource requests did not reach the governor’s office or the Public Security Secretariat (SSP). Furthermore, sources indicate that this type of action would constitute a breach of hierarchy, and an alignment meeting with police commands must be scheduled.
One of the deputies who has received requests is Major Mecca (PL). According to him, the police sent letters to the Legislative House requesting the release of funds. “I had an example where the commander told me that there had been no uniforms in the barracks for two years. Uniforms, boots, vests”, he says. Deputy Captain Telhada (PP) was also the target of these conversations. He highlights that deliveries have been made by management and states that salary adjustments and investment in technology have been prioritized, but recognizes that there is a search for resources. “We have been approached to complement with recommendations for amendments. Acquisition of vehicles, individual equipment, weapons”, he says.
Under reserve conditions, police officers and members of state security forces reported, mainly, a lack of bulletproof vests and combat boots. The reports mention the exchange of used vests and the use of funds taken from one’s own salary to purchase boots. Requesting anonymity, another stated that this is the first time that the commands have authorized police officers to ask for funds directly from parliamentarians. A video is circulating on social media, also among civil police officers, mocking the relay of vests and presenting an antiperspirant as a solution to the case.
According to data from the São Paulo Transparency Portal, there is currently R$1.3 million in parliamentary amendments being processed for the Military Police. Among them, an amendment of R$ 100 thousand for the acquisition of tactical vest covers, presented by Captain Telhada, expected to be released by May.
The survey shows that, since 2024, the parties that allocated the most resources to the PM were PL, PT, PSDB and Republicans, respectively. Last year, 31 amendments were paid exclusively to the corporation, totaling around R$5 million — a lower value than in 2024, when R$5.8 million were distributed across 52 amendments.
State deputy Paulo Fiorilo (PT) states that “military police and firefighters invariably visit Alesp at the end of the year asking for parliamentary amendments”. According to him, problems such as lack of structure in battalions and accommodation are highlighted. “It is a government that does not look at police officers as it said it would, which is why we have contributed with amendments as much as possible.”
In general, the volume of amendments for Public Security in São Paulo also fell from 2024 to 2025: R$8.9 million allocated in 2024 against R$5.8 million in the following year.
Tarcísio’s assistants point out that the movement cannot happen. In practice, there are people responsible for requesting money from the State government – which would characterize indiscipline and a breach of hierarchy. A high-ranking source at Palácio dos Bandeirantes highlights that the government cannot admit political interference in management. The interlocutors also refute the information and see political pressure, in an election year, for new salary increases.
A member of the Tarcisio government remembers that, from 2022 to now, the category has appreciated by more than 40%: around 20% in the last year of the Rodrigo Garcia (PSD) administration and another 20% in the first year of the current governor. It also highlights the acquisition of 126 thousand new uniforms, which are being delivered in stages until May this year, and guarantees that, currently, there are 4 thousand vests in stock, as a reserve.
In a statement, the SSP said that “ballistic vests are part of the Military Police’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the quantity available is sufficient to cover all personnel in operational activity in the State”, currently almost 81 thousand PMs. It also highlights that 38 thousand vests have been purchased for the PM since 2023 — 17 thousand last year alone, with an investment of R$75.4 million.
Still in a note, the secretariat guaranteed that “there are no military police officers in the State of São Paulo without personal protective equipment” and guaranteed that “the Institution maintains strict control over its equipment, carrying out the necessary replacement within the regulatory period”.
In this sense, deputy Lieutenant Coimbra (PL) denied a lack of supplies, but confirmed an increase in requests for parliamentary amendments. “There are many deputies who come from security. And this is a source of extra resources, the battalions go after it because of this”, he stated. He highlighted, however, that the purchase of uniforms and vests was delayed due to problems in the bidding process. In October, the Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo authorized the purchase of ballistic vests for the PM after suspicion of restriction of competition. A state notice had been on hold since April. With the decision, 15 thousand vests must be purchased, currently in the sample testing phase by the classified companies. Tenders for supplies must be conducted by the PM itself, based on the allocation foreseen in the State’s annual budget.
Also according to the SSP, “for 2026, R$12.7 billion were allocated in the budget exclusively to the Military Police, including resources for the acquisition of personal protective equipment, such as ballistic vests and uniforms. Investments follow technical criteria, always with priority given to preserving the lives of civil servants and the population.”
DISSATISFACTION AND PRESSURE
Parliamentarians have publicly demanded advances from the governor. In conversation with the column, Major Mecca stated that letters of credit for the housing program aimed at police officers have not yet been delivered. “We have the Safe Housing program, with a letter of credit worth R$300,000, to be paid in up to 30 years and with 0% interest, to remove police officers from areas dominated by organized crime. So far, no one has received it,” he declared.
There is also a charge for sending the new Organic Law of the Civil Police to the Legislative Assembly, a promise made by Tarcísio at the end of the year, after a meeting at Palácio dos Bandeirantes with representatives of the Military, Civil and Penal police. The project has not yet been submitted. The sector scheduled a demonstration for next Wednesday (24), at 10 am, on Avenida Paulista.
CHANGES AT THE TOP
The pressure for resources occurs amid changes in the Public Security Secretariat following the departure of the then secretary, federal deputy Guilherme Derrite (PP). Delegate Osvaldo Nico took over the portfolio as a gesture to the Civil Police, while Colonel Henguel Pereira was appointed executive secretary. Considered a disaffected by Derrite, Henguel promotes changes and internal transfers in the team left behind by the former secretary.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
