RIO DE JANEIRO - The head of Rio de Janeiro state's civil police stepped down Tuesday after a major corruption investigation resulted in the arrest of 35 policemen, including his right-hand man.

The police chief, Allan Turnowski, nevertheless said he stepped down for the good of the institution. In a statement released earlier in the day, he said he hoped the initiatives he took while in office would help improve Rio's police work.

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Turnowski's departure came after a federal police investigation called "Operation Guillotine" was launched last Friday and has so far resulted in the arrest of 35 policemen.

The policemen were accused of collaborating with criminals and operating illegal militia groups.

Among the arrested was Carlos Oliveira, a former deputy chief of civil police and Turnowski's right-hand man.

After a long meeting with police authorities, Rio's Public Security Secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame announced that Marta Rocha will take over as police chief.

Rocha is currently head of the police's Women Protection Department. She has been a policewoman since 1983 and will be the first female police chief in Rio.