Military Police (Brazil)


Military Police are the preventive state police of the states and of the Federal District of Brazil. The Military Police units, which have their own formations, rules and uniforms depending on the state and the Federal District, are responsible for ostensive policing and the maintenance of public order. Detective work and forensics are undertaken by a state's Civil Police.
All state Military Police and Military Firefighters Corps are classed as reserve troops and :wikt:ancillary|ancillary forces of the Brazilian Army. In time of war the military police forces can be pressed into federal service. But they remain distinct from the provosts belonging to the other services within the Brazilian Military: the corps Army Police for the Army, Police Company of the Naval Battalion for the Navy, and Air Force Police for the Air Force.
In 2004 the National Public Security Force was created to handle any significant security crisis. The unit, which is composed of the most qualified Military Police personnel from all federal states, can only be deployed through the express command of a state governor.

History

The first militarized police in Portugal was the Royal Police Guard of Lisbon, established in 1801; which was followed by the model of the National Gendarmerie of France, created in 1791.
When the Portuguese Royal Family was transferred to Brazil, the Royal Police Guard of Lisbon remained in Portugal, and another equivalent was created in Rio de Janeiro, under the name of Military Division of the Royal Guard Police of Rio de Janeiro, in 1809.
With the abdication of Emperor Pedro I in 1831, the Regency held reformulations on the Brazilian Armed Forces. The Royal Guard Police of Rio de Janeiro was abolished, and replaced by the Municipal Guard Corps of Volunteers; a type of security force similar to the French National Guard. The same law allowed each province to establish its own Guard of Volunteers.
In 1834 Pedro I died in Portugal and this reduced the fear in Brazil of a reunification of the kingdoms. The Guard of Volunteers were then transformed into Province Police Corps, with professional troops. The Police Corps were created with the same structure as the Army, and to serve as reserve troops when necessary.
With the Proclamation of the Republic, Brazil adopted a constitution based on the United States' one, where the federal states have a large amount of autonomy. The Corps of Police began to be administered by the states and became smaller regional armies, with infantry, cavalry, artillery, and later, even air forces. This danger to national security remained until the end of World War II, with the deposition of the dictatorial government of Getúlio Vargas.
After World War II, the Military Police assumed the roles of a more "traditional" police force, similar to a gendarmerie subject to the states. It sought a rapprochement with the civil society, slowly developing the configuration it currently possesses.

Structure

Organization

The Secretariat for Public Security supervises all state police activities. The SSPs are subordinate to the National Council of Public Security.
According to Article 144 of the federal constitution, the function of the Military Police "is to serve as a conspicuous police force and to preserve public order." The Military Police of any state are organized as a military force and have a military-based rank structure. Training is weighted more heavily toward police matters, but counterinsurgency training is also included. Arms and equipment of state forces include machine guns and armored cars, in addition to other items generally associated with police.
Article 144 of the constitution stipulates that: "The Military Police forces and the Military Firefighters Corps, ancillary forces and army reserve, are subordinate, along with the Civil Police forces, to the governors of the states, Federal District, and territories." Between 1969 and 1985, the Ministry of Army has controlled the Military Police during periods of declared national emergency. Before 1930 these forces were under individual state control, and known as "the governors' armies." They sometimes outnumbered regular troops in many states. In 1932, after Constitutionalist Revolution in São Paulo, the Federal Army took steps to reverse this situation. In 1964 most Military Police members were on the side of the successful conspirators.
officers of PMPR - 2010.
During military dictatorship, Military Police units were often commanded by active-duty army officers, but that has occurred less frequently as professional police officers have achieved higher ranks and positions. The commandant of a state's Military Police is usually a Colonel. The command is divided into police regions, which deploy police battalions and companies. Firefighting is also a Military Police function in some states, but they are organized in separate units called Corpo de Bombeiros Militar. State traffic police are either the State Highway Police, or the Traffic Police in the larger cities. Both are part of the state Military Police.

Field organization

The Military Police is organized into battalions, companies, platoons, and subdivided into detachments. The battalions are based in major urban centers, and their companies and platoons are distributed according to population density in cities.

The mounted police is organized into regiments, subdivided into squadrons and platoons of mounted police.

Nomenclature

Throughout Brazil the Military Police is known by the acronym PM, followed by the abbreviation of the State. Except in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, where the unit is known as BM,.
These forces are distinct from the three provost forces that police the Brazilian armed forces: The Naval Police, Army Police, and Aeronautical Police

Uniforms

The Brazilian Armed Forces inherited Portuguese military traditions and during the period of the Empire and part of the Republic, with few exceptions, dark blue uniforms were used.
In 1903 the Brazilian Army opted for khaki colored field uniforms, later copied by the Military Police. In 1934 the Ministry of War established khaki as the color khaki for all reserve forces.
After the Second World War, the Military Police had the autonomy to adopt its own uniforms, but most stayed with the khaki. During the Military Government in 1976, the Army suggested that the Military Police adopt the blue color. Since then, some units have changed their uniforms while others have not.
Currently the color khaki and blue prevail in the colors of the uniforms of the Military Police.
This applies only to service uniforms, not to the formal uniform, which has different variations.

Ranks

The Military Police of the Brazilian States have almost the same hierarchical ranking system of the Brazilian Army, but with different insignias and with no rank of "general".
;Officers
;Enlisted

Main types of policing

Analysis by the Federal Government of the ratio of resident population to the number of official Military Police in 2003 shows that the proportion is quite varied among the states. The states of Roraima, Amapá, Acre, Rondônia, Rio Grande do Norte and Rio de Janeiro, plus the Federal District have a higher proportion of Military Police. In the Federal District, for example, for each military police there are one hundred and thirty-seven inhabitants.
At the opposite extreme, the states with the lowest ratio of military police are Pará, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. Maranhão has the lowest, with eight hundred and twenty-two people per Military Police.
Note that in the case of São Paulo and Paraná the numbers of the Military Firefighters Corps are included in the figures for Military Police.

National Public Security Force

In situations of serious disturbance of public order that exceeds the capacity of the States, their Governors can request assistance from the Federal Government.
To work in such situations, the Ministry of Justice has the National Public Security Force, a national gendarmeire composed of selected MP personnel and constables from state military police commands.
The FNSP is composed of specially trained officers and other ranks of the Military Police of different States, in coordination between the Secretary of Public Safety of each State and the Ministry of Justice.

Inspectorate General of Military Police

The Inspectorate General of Military Police - IGPM is a command element of the Brazilian Army, responsible for coordinating and conducting activities of control over the Military Police and Military Firefighters Corps of States.
It is part of the Land Operations Command - COTER and its mission is:

Armored vehicles

NameOriginTypeQuantityUsed byNotePhoto
Lenco BearCatLaw enforcement vehicle1 PMGOOrdered
Paramount Group MaverickArmored security vehicle6 PMERJ6
Wolf Armoured VehicleArmored security vehicle4 PMESPIn operation of the 4th BPChq Special Operations
Ford Cargo 815Armored personnel carrier12 PMERJThe most armored police vehicle in use in Brazil, "caveirão" is extensively used on anti-narcotics operations in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Armored car transport values modified for police use.
Volkswagen Cargo 1722Armored personnel carrier6 PMERJ9 vehicles were purchased, and three were designated to PCERJ. Armored car transport values modified for police use. Dubbed "caveirinha", in a reference to "Caveirão".
Plasan GuarderArmored personnel carrier/Riot control vehicle6 PMESP6
Massari CenturionArmored personnel carrier/Riot control vehicle4
2		 PMESP
PMDF		Being disabled
Centigon CenturionArmored personnel carrier/Riot control vehicle2 PMDFIn operation
Hatehof MAN TGM 18.34 FolderRiot control vehicle4 PMESPOrdered
Beit Alfa technologies "Model MAN RCU 6000 II"Riot control vehicle/Water Cannon1 PMERJ
Mercedes-Benz Autolife TroiaArmored personnel carrier1
1
1		 PMPR
PMSE
PMBA		Civil police of São Paulo State also uses a vehicle of this model. Armored car transport values modified for police use.
Amalcaburio AlcatrazArmored personnel carrier/Riot control vehicle2 PMMG
Steel ForceArmored personnel carrier/Riot control vehicle1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1		 PMDF
PMAM
PMBA
PMCE
BMRS
PMPR
PMMT
PMMG
PMRN
PMPE
PMERJ		Vehicles donated by the federal government

Helicopters

NameOriginTypeQuantity/Used byNotePhoto
Helibras EsquiloLight utility helicopter21 - PMESP
2 - PMGO
6 - PMERJ
4 - PMES
5 - PMBA
? - PMSC
1 - PMMS
? - PMMG
? - BMRS
2 - PMDF
5 - PMMA
? - PMPE
AgustaWestland AW119 KoalaLight utility helicopter1 - PMGO
2 - PMSC
Eurocopter EC130/Light utility helicopter2 - PMPR
Bell 206Light utility helicopter2 - PMPR
Sikorsky S-300trainer helicopter2 - PMESP
1 - PMERJ
1 - BMRS
Bell Huey IIArmored helicopter/Multipurpose utility helicopter1 - PMERJ
Eurocopter EC145Medium utility helicopter1 - PMMA
3 - PMBA
? - PMCE
2 - PMERJ
AgustaWestland AW109SAR/utility helicopter1 - PMESP

Gallery