The municipal government of Rio de Janeiro has decided that only permanent and career municipal guards will be allowed to carry firearms in its new elite division. This announcement was made by the city’s vice-mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, in a legislative session shortly after a Federal Police ruling denied the request for armed status for the Municipal Force. The decision indicates a clear delineation between roles, as temporary guards will be restricted to administrative tasks and will not participate in any armed deployment.

The context of this decision arose from the Federal Police's recent denial of firearm permits for members of the new Municipal Force, highlighting legal constraints based on existing legislation that prohibits the arming of individuals in certain positions within the guard. The ruling suggested that the establishment of an armed elite force is an overreach of the municipal guards' constitutional functions, encroaching upon the responsibilities typically held by state military police.

This development indicates a significant shift in Rio de Janeiro's approach to local law enforcement, emphasizing a more structured and legally compliant framework for arming police personnel. However, it also raises questions about the effectiveness of these divisions in addressing urban safety issues, as the reduction of armed personnel could affect the overall operational capacity in combating crime in the city.