Forget Gotham City – Batman has come to the rescue in Brazil! Retired cop, Andre Luiz Pinheiro has suited up in full cape and mask to fight crime long after his retirement.

Pinheiro is part of Sao Paolo’s new measure to help fight crime where it starts – children. In a city teeming with violence and crime, the police hope to raise the city’s children as partners and allies from early on, and hopefully deter them from future criminal acts.

[image_border img=”http://www.ripleys.com/weird/files/2012/03/pb-120319-batman-brazil-ps2.photoblog900.jpg” caption=”” pos=”right” border=”true” buffer=”true” /]

The idea behind the initiative is to create a positive association and connection between Batman and the local Police – all in hopes to help children identify good versus evil.

”I am eager to know how we can work together,” said Pinheiro. “One child that I can help bringing the story of a character, would be very cool.”

There seems to be extremely positive sentiment about the idea. Could you use a Batman in your area?