Brazil - Security Official Resigns After Deaths of Police Officers - NYTimes.com The top security official for São Paulo State resigned as authorities grappled with a spree of execution-style killings of police officers and a broader surge in homicides. The resignation of Antonio Ferreira Pinto, announced Wednesday by Gov. Geraldo Alckmin, came amid criticism of Mr. Ferreira Pinto's handling of security policies. So far this year, more than 90 police officers have been killed in São Paulo. That is a sharp rise from 2011, pointing to a resurgence of a powerful organized crime organization, the First Capital Command, or P.C.C., as the group is known by its Portuguese initials. Mr. Ferreira Pinto had played down the influence of the group, which operates largely from within São Paulo's prison system. A prominent judicial official, Fernando Grella, was named to replace Mr. Ferreira Pinto.