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Municipal Guard Ombudsman and Inspectorate gain new spaces
Published on 03/05/2022 - 15:27 | Updated
The Municipal Guard now has new spaces for the Ombudsman and Internal Affairs Department - Robert Gomes The Ombudsman's Office and the Internal Affairs Office of the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Guard (GM-Rio) have gained new spaces to better serve the population and its staff. The two departments are part of the institution's correctional system, together with the Intelligence Advisory Office, and provide direct service to citizens, receiving and investigating complaints and claims related to the provision of services and the conduct of municipal guards; and also provide support to staff, helping to ensure integrity in the work environment and performance. The new facilities began operating at the beginning of April.
In the case of the Ombudsman's Office, the change was made to optimize customer service, especially in person. In 2021, more than 13 requests were received from the public, 133 of which were made in person, and 12 requests related to the Access to Information Law. In the first quarter of 2022, 2.849 requests were registered, 24 of which were in person.
The percentage of calls of this type is not that high in relation to the total number of calls, however, although the number is not that high, in-person assistance to citizens must be provided with agility and transparency, as well as the provision of the necessary means to receive requests and complaints. Previously, the room was located on the second floor of the GM-Rio headquarters in São Cristóvão. Now, it is on the ground floor, providing greater accessibility for people with disabilities, mobility difficulties, the elderly, pregnant women, etc.
– We have a motto at the Municipal Guard, which is that our mission is to serve the population. This is a commitment of ours, which involves the Ombudsman’s Office in particular, as this sector is responsible for listening closely to the population’s demands, which can point out areas for improvement or even correction, contributing to public integrity, so that we can be in tune with the city’s needs – highlighted the commander of GM-Rio, inspector general José Ricardo Soares.
The Ombudsman's Office is the first step in serving citizens, and its employees work in direct contact with all GM-Rio's departments and operational units. In the event of complaints, they are forwarded to the Internal Affairs Office, which also has a new home, occupying a floor in the Regional Labor Court (TRT) building in downtown Rio.
The GM-Rio Internal Affairs Department is the body responsible for overseeing the activities and conduct of municipal guards. It is also responsible for correcting and inspecting the activities of the departments that make up the institution's organizational structure, assessing representations regarding the actions of employees, and initiating inquiries and disciplinary administrative proceedings whenever the interest of the service so requires. Another function of the Internal Affairs Department is to apply disciplinary sanctions within its sphere of competence. A base outside the institution's structure gives the department even more autonomy to carry out its activities for the benefit of the population of Rio.
