The state police intervened as well, prompting the governor's chief law-enforcement officer to resign in disgust and the state police superintendent to retire unexpectedly.

Taking a page from Officer Alex Murphy, police officers in Brazil will soon be adding a layer of cyborg tech to their law enforcement toolbox via glasses rigged with facial recognition tech.

NEWSWEEK's Daniel Klaidman spoke to the nation's top law-enforcement officer about critics, staying humble, and the threats to the nation. Excerpts.