Goiás Court Reduces Ex-Governor Caiado's Security Detail to Four Officers

A Goiás court has significantly reduced the security detail for former state governor Ronaldo Caiado and his family, ordering a decrease from 51 military police officers to just four. The decision, issued by Judge Vinícius Caldas da Gama e Abreu of the 2nd Public Treasury Court, was made under a provisional order.

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Although there is coherence in the extension of institutional security to the families of a former governor, since they can also be targets of attacks, this does not mean authorization for unlimited, autonomous, cumulative, or disproportionate structure.

The Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an administrative impropriety lawsuit against Caiado, his wife Gracinha Caiado, and the former head of the Military House of Goiás, Marco Aurélio Godinho. The action targeted a portaria signed by Godinho that extended security benefits to the families of former governors. The prosecutor's office sought restitution for damages to public funds, a declaration of the portaria's unconstitutionality, and a limitation of the security detail to four agents for the former governor, without extension to family members.

Judge Abreu partially granted the request, acknowledging that security could be extended to family members due to potential risks. However, he stressed that such extensions must adhere to proportionality and legal limits, stating, "this does not mean authorization for unlimited, autonomous, cumulative, or disproportionate structure." The court clarified that the limit of four officers applies to the total contingent, not necessarily four officers acting simultaneously. If family members require protection without the former governor present, they must draw from this same pool of four officers.

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The extension to family members, like any security measure, is subject to proportionality and the limits set by the governing legislation.

The ruling aims to prevent the creation of separate, parallel security teams for family members, which could divert officers from public safety duties and incur excessive costs. Judge Abreu also mandated that Godinho adjust the security team within five days and required the Military House of Goiás to submit a detailed report on all expenses associated with Caiado's security services, including daily allowances, travel, accommodation, and vehicle usage.

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If the protection of family members is necessary without the presence of the former governor, it will be necessary to detach police officers from this contingent of 4.