Activists outraged after Rio lawmakers approve ‘wild west bonus’ for police who kill ‘criminals’

Rio Lawmakers Approve "Wild West Bonus" for Police Who Kill "Criminals" In a contentious move, Rio de Janeiro's parliament approved plans to pay police officers bonuses for neutralizing criminals during operations. The decision was made on Tuesday with 47 votes in favor and 15 against. The policy, which will see civil police officers receive between 10% and 150% of their salaries as bonuses, is set to be implemented as part of new legislation relating to Rio's civil police. According to sources, the bonus scheme aims to incentivize police officers to capture high-calibre weapons and neutralize criminals. The move has sparked immediate outrage among human rights activists, who warn that it could lead to an increase in extrajudicial killings in the city's favelas. "This is a recipe for disaster," said Maria Luiza Vianna, a leading human rights activist. "We've seen this before in Rio and it ended in bloodshed." The legislation is a throwback to similar policies introduced in the mid-1990s by then-governor Marcello Alencar. Those laws were scrapped in 1998 after three years of widespread killings in the favelas. Rio's civil police have faced criticism for their handling of operations in the city's poor neighborhoods, with allegations of excessive force and human rights abuses. The new policy has been condemned by many as a "Wild West" approach to law enforcement. The decision is set to be sent to Rio's governor, Wilson Witzel, for signature. Activists are planning to protest outside the state legislature on Wednesday, calling for the policy to be scrapped. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Theguardian reporting.*