The Security Police of the Italian People's Republic was the supreme State security agency. Modelled on the Soviet KGB, the Security Police existed solely to insure that Italian citizens were good and loyal adherents to communism and did not support or disseminate pro-capitalist notions. Most citizens feared the Security Police, as the organization had limitless authority to investigate and punish dissenters, including the use of torture. Thus, Security Police officers and their families had a great deal of political clout.