Police death toll for 2017 in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro reaches 100
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Brazilian police have buried the 100th officer to be killed in the state of Rio de Janeiro this year.
Around 200 people attended the burial of Sergeant Fabio Cavalcante on Sunday afternoon.
The grim milestone underscores a surge in violence that’s prompted authorities to deploy army troops across the city that played host to the summer Olympics last year.
In an emotional cry for help, the wife of an active police officer and member of the wives and mothers of military police officers association, Rogeria Quaresma said “No one does anything. The population must pick a side because today it is our heroes, but soon it will be the people dying.”
The 39-year-old officer was killed on Saturday in one of Rio’s most violent districts.
The married father of one was off duty when he was approached by armed men and shot at least 10 times, according to authorities.
“What we are seeing is a movement coming from the criminals. This always happens, but we are now seeing it to a greater degree, with more intensity. Criminals are motivated to kill police.” says Former special operations police officer and security specialist, Paulo Storani
In 2016, 146 police were killed in Rio, 100 of whom were not on duty at the time. Since 1995, the force has lost more than 3,000 officers.