Rio de Janeiro Governor-elect Douglas Ruas promises security policy changes

Douglas Ruas, the governor-elect of Rio de Janeiro, has pledged to implement a new public security policy starting in January 2027. This announcement follows recent incidents in the state's North Zone, where criminals reportedly hijacked buses and used them as barricades during police operations in the Complexo da Serrinha.

Ruas stated that his administration will adopt a firmer stance against criminal organizations, utilizing intelligence, planning, and police integration. He described the recent bus hijackings as intolerable and characterized the situation as a war against society.

Additionally, Ruas has expressed intentions to modify the state's strategic crime indicator system. He proposes removing the requirement to reduce police lethality as a condition for officers to receive salary bonuses. Ruas argued that current indicators act as a disincentive to combat crime, noting that officers face administrative punishment if a criminal dies during a confrontation.