The governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello (PL), announced this Monday, the 10th, that he will place at least one armed police officer in each of the 1,053 schools in the state education network. The measure was signaled last week in a meeting with representatives of public safety and the education network, after an attack on the Cantinho Bom Pastor daycare center, in Blumenau, left four children aged 4 to 7 years old dead.
In addition to relocating military police officers to provide armed security at schools, the government also intends to hire retired agents from the Civil or Military Police and firefighters who make up the Temporary Body of Inactive Public Security (CTISP).
The measure should be implemented in the next two months and involves an investment of approximately R$ 70 million. “No matter how much it will cost, the state government will do it because our children and grandchildren deserve to be safe in schools”, said Jorginho Mello.
Since last Thursday, the 6th, the date of the attack, the government of Santa Catarina has ordered an “ostensive round of military police in front of all public schools”. Municipal guards have also reinforced security at day care centers and schools in Blumenau.
Mello also announced this Monday that state public school teachers will be trained to respond quickly and safely to threats to the school environment.
In a meeting this Thursday, the 6th, the mayor announced that he intends to hire retired reserve agents and ‘private armed surveillance’ in the municipality’s teaching units
“It is good to make it clear that this is not a solution that we are going to implement overnight. It is a set of efforts that will be put into practice as soon as possible”, said the mayor of Blumenau, Mário Hildebrandt, after last Friday’s meeting .
“We are working together with several bodies. Collectively we are looking for solutions to continue and overcome this moment of crisis, so that we can return to classes with peace of mind on Monday”, highlighted Alexandre Matias, Municipal Secretary of Education.
