By Brennan Stark, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Colonel Erir Ribeiro da Costa Filho has revealed a new methodology for evaluating Polícia Militar (Military Police, or MP) officers, including a comprehensive performance review every six months for all police, regardless of rank. The newly appointed MP commander has been announcing sweeping changes since replacing former commander Mário Sérgio de Brito Duarte last week.
According to the MP’s official newsletter, every six months commanders and their subordinate officers alike will each receive reviews ranging from excellent to very good, good, fair, or poor. Promotion within the MP’s ranks will depend largely on these assessments.
Costa Filho hopes that the new measure, which requires those placed in top leadership positions to have consistently received strong reviews, will ensure that only the most professional and dedicated of men become leaders. “The pro-activity will have to come from the top down. Leaders have to lead by example,” he stated.
According to MP spokesman Captain Sérgio Marques, police who consistently receive bad grades in their evaluations will be subject to a disciplinary board, with the biggest penalty being permanent dismissal.
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