Fri, November 06, 2009
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday that paying good salaries to the police officers is the only way to prevent them from accepting bribes from criminals.
According to the president, a well-paid and well-formed police force is a guarantee of tranquillity to the society.
"The only way we can make sure that a policeman will not accept bribes from criminals is to pay him well enough for him to provide for his family," he said.
The president sanctioned on Friday a new career plan to the Federal District's police force and fire department, which will allow the promotion of 12,000 officers, which implies in higher salaries, and the hiring of another 3,000 officers.
According to President Lula, the Federal District's new career plan will have a repercussion all over the country, but it is necessary to take into consideration that not all states can afford to pay such high salaries to the police. The initial salary of an officer in the Federal District exceeds 4,000 reais (2,325 U.S. dollars) a month, a much higher amount than in many Brazilian states.
The Brazilian President also defended that the police officers need more qualification, and alerted that the 24-hours shifts which the policemen have to work must be changed, as they risk the efficiency of the force.
