Military Police confirm inappropriate use of cameras in case of death in Rio

The Military Police of Rio de Janeiro confirmed the inappropriate use of individual operational cameras by agents involved in the operation that ended with the death of Daniel da Costa Ferraz, aged 19, in May 2024, in Anchieta, in the North Zone of the capital. According to the corporation, the conduct was classified as a serious transgression and the opinion was forwarded to the Military Justice Audit of the State of Rio de Janeiro (AJMERJ).

The conclusion comes after analysis by the Rio de Janeiro Public Defender's Office and the PM's Internal Affairs Department, which pointed out that two police officers intentionally removed the Portable Operational Cameras (COPs) before the action and left the equipment in the battalion during the entire operation.

The victim was in his last year of high school and was a volunteer capoeira instructor at an NGO in his region. He had no criminal record.

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On the cameras, recordings were found in which the police replaced the devices and combined alternative versions of what really happened. There are records of both agreeing to attribute the shooting of Daniel to just one of them, to avoid seizing the weapons used for forensic examination after the action.

The Civil Police states that the investigations are being conducted at the 31st DP (Ricardo de Albuquerque), with monitoring by the MP (Public Ministry).

The autopsy report shows that the 19-year-old was hit in the back with three shots. Furthermore, there is no evidence that he was armed or posed a threat to the agents present at the incident.

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In a note to CNN Brasil, the SEPM (State Secretariat of Military Police) reported that the result of the investigation confirmed the inappropriate use of cameras, classified as a serious transgression.

SEPM also confirms that the opinion was forwarded to AJMERJ (Military Justice Audit of the State of Rio de Janeiro), in order to continue investigating the case.

In view of this, the Public Defender's Office filed a compensation action against the State of Rio de Janeiro, including compensation for the damage caused and an official retraction to Daniel's family for the attempted posthumous criminalization of the young man.

See notes in full
Secretariat of the State of the Military Police
"The SEPM Press Office informs that, according to the Corporation's General Inspectorate, a Military Police Inquiry (IPM) was opened to investigate the circumstances of the incident and, at the time, the inappropriate use of individual operational cameras by the military was verified, which characterizes a transgression of a serious nature. The opinion was forwarded to the Audit of Military Justice (AJMERJ) to continue the investigative procedures. SEPM continues to fully collaborate with the other procedures conducted by the Judiciary on the case."

Public Defender's Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro
"The Center for the Defense of Human Rights (NUDEDH), of the Public Defender's Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro, has been following for almost two years the case of the death of Daniel da Costa Ferraz, aged 19, which occurred on May 23, 2024, in Anchieta, North Zone of Rio, representing his family. After analyzing the images from the Portable Operational Cameras (COPs), obtained from the Military Police Internal Affairs, the Public Defender's Office found that military police officers Felipe Cunha Campos Silva and Jeremias Santana Amaral intentionally removed their equipment before leaving for the operation, leaving it in the battalion during the entire action in which the young man was killed, despite the mandatory use of cameras in external activities. The recordings also recorded the police officers replacing the devices on the way to the police station and combining the version that would be presented to the police authority, including the attribution of the shots to just one of the officers to avoid the seizure of two rifles by forensics.

Daniel was a high school senior, worked as a volunteer capoeira instructor at a community NGO and had no criminal record. The autopsy report shows that the young man was shot three times in the back, and there is no evidence to indicate that he was armed or posed a threat to the agents. In view of the facts established, the Public Defender's Office filed a compensation action against the State of Rio de Janeiro in favor of the victim's family, requesting compensation for the damage caused and an official public apology for the attempted posthumous criminalization of the young man. The institution's actions reaffirm the Public Defender's Office's commitment to defending human rights, the memory of victims and the right of families to truth, justice and reparation."

Under the supervision of Manuella Dal Mas*

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Source: CNN