Luiz Eduardo Soares

National Secretary of Public Security
Rio de Janeiro
Focus Area(s)
Accountable Policing
Critical Tasks
Community policing
Internal accountability
Interviewers
Richard Bennet
Country of Reform
Brazil
Town/City
Rio de Janeiro
Place (Building/Street)
Municipal Valuation of Life and Prevention of Violence at Nova Iguacu
Country
Brazil
Date of Interview
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Abstract
In this interview, Dr. Luiz Eduardo Soares discusses police criminality, particularly extrajudicial killings, armed invasions, tortures and disrespect towards the poor, and the ideological and political barriers to police reform in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Initially, he describes the process of reforming Brazil’s state institutions during its transition out of a dictatorship. He addresses issues of political polarization and building consensus around reform projects, institutional disorganization, and community policing. Dr. Soares explains the successes of the UPP (Unidade Pacificadora da Policia) program and the GPAE (Grupamento de Policiamento em Areas Especiais) program in establishing secure neighborhoods and rooting out police corruption. In order to scale up the successes of the experimental peace policing initiatives in several of the favelas, Dr. Soares asserts the need for major institutional reform within the police, which would require significant political support. He also stresses the importance of empirical research methods to address social problems. 
 

Full Interview

150 MB
Dr. Luiz Soares Interview
Profile

At the time of this interview Dr. Luiz Eduardo Soares was the Secretary of Municipal Valuation of Life and Prevention of Nova Iguacu, Rio de Janeiro. He has served in numerous government positions dealing with issues of policing and public safety and in academic positions at various prestigious universities. After completing his Ph.D in Sociology and Political Science and researching and teaching for 15 years at IUPERJ (University Research Institute of Rio de Janeiro), Dr. Soares was appointed to a research position in security policy at ISER (Instituto de Estudos da Religião). In 2003, Dr. Soares became National Secretary of Public Security for Rio de Janeiro. Since occupying this position, he has overseen the implementation of internal police reform programs, such as the UPP and GPAE.

Keywords
internal accountability
extension of services to insecure areas
community policing
performance management
city management
getting the news out/managing expectations
Not specified