Departures of note

Maria Vilma Alves da Silva, widely known as Delegada Vilma, was a retired police delegate of the Civil Police of Piauí, Brazil. She made history as the first woman and the first Black woman to hold a leading role in the state's Civil Police, dedicating nearly five decades of her career to public security and the defense of women's rights.

Throughout her long service, Vilma Alves became a prominent figure in the fight against gender violence in Piauí, building a legacy of pioneering advocacy for women. Her work earned her recognition from state authorities, public institutions, and civil entities, who repeatedly highlighted her pioneering role and lasting impact on the state's public security landscape.

She died on August 22, 2026, in Teresina, at the age of 79, after suffering a heart attack days earlier. Her death prompted widespread tributes from the governor of Piauí, the federal minister of social development, and the general delegate of the state's Civil Police, all of whom honored her trailblazing career and commitment to women's causes.