Colonel Glauce Cavalli is likely to take up the post previously held by Colonel José Augusto Coutinho, who wanted to resign from the army.
The São Paulo government named Colonel Glauce Anselmo Cavalli as the state’s Military Police’s first female commander-general. The Act was published in the State Official Gazette on Thursday (16).
Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) cited the colonel’s professional accomplishment as the rationale for her nomination, emphasising the importance of boosting female presence in São Paulo’s senior roles. This information was first reported by Folha de S. Paulo and corroborated by CNN Brasil.
The new commander general formerly oversaw the Military Police’s Logistics Directorate. She had also overseen the Metropolitan Area 2 Policing Command, the General Command’s Legal Affairs Coordination, and the Prime Minister’s Social Communication Centre.
Glauce Cavalli has degrees in law from Cruzeiro do Sul University and physical education from the PM School of Physical Education. She also holds master’s and doctoral degrees in Police Sciences, Security, and Public Order.
The colonel succeeds Colonel José Augusto Coutinho, who, according to Folha, has been in command of the Military Police since May 2025 and has requested to retire.
The change comes following instances of police aggression
The shift in command of the Military Police comes weeks after prominent episodes of police violence in São Paulo, involving personnel of the force.
On February 18th, soldier Gisele Alves Santana was discovered dead at her house. Following additional revelations about her spouse, Lieutenant Colonel Geraldo Leite Rosa Neto, the inquiry shifted from the first idea that the policewoman had committed suicide. He was accused with femicide and procedural fraud in the case in which he reportedly murdered his wife.
On April 3rd, Yasmin Cursino Ferreira, a police officer in Cidade Tiradentes, eastern São Paulo, shot and murdered Thawanna Da Silva Salmázio following an altercation about the speed of their patrol car. Yasmin was not wearing a body camera during the event, thus she was removed from operational responsibilities.
Both instances are under investigation by the Military Police Internal Affairs Department.
