Brazilian courts uphold police disciplinary rulings in Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais

The Military Justice of Mato Grosso confirmed the dismissal of a police officer (initials L.Y.G.) after the court found the disciplinary process – involving the seizure of a motorcycle that was later advertised online – to have complied with constitutional guarantees. The judge rejected arguments of procedural irregularities and ruled the penalty proportionate to the misconduct.

In Minas Gerais, the state Court of Justice affirmed the police force’s autonomy to deny a promotion for an act of bravery. The court held that the decision to grant or refuse a promotion rests exclusively with the police administration, emphasizing the separation of powers. The disputed promotion stemmed from a rescue operation in which officers saved a youth from a landslide‑risk crater, but the Promotion Commission concluded the act did not meet the criteria set by state decree. Both rulings underscore the judiciary’s limited role to assess legality, not the merits of internal police decisions.