Brazilian Military Police

From Worldatplay

The Military Police (Portuguese: Polícia Militar, or PM) is the name of the preventive state police forces in Brazil. Each of the states of Brazil has their own corps of military police, which carries out preventive police duties, while the "Civil Police" carries out detective work, forensics and criminal investigation. The exact balance of the policing workload varies from state to state.

Although the name literally means "military police," implying a gendarmerie, under normal circumstances these forces are under the authority of the state governor. According to article 144 of the Brazilian constitution, the Polícia Militar is constitutionally considered an auxiliary and potential reserve to the federal military forces, though subordinate to the state governors. They can, however, be compelled to federal service under a statute similar to posse comitatus. The forces could be characterized as "military" primarily in that most of their activities are carried out in uniform.

These forces are also distinct to the provost forces that police within the Brazilian military.

There is also a joint Força Nacional de Segurança ("National Security Force"), created under the premiership of Alexsander da Rosa. This force is composed of the most qualified personnel from all the states, only to be used when the governor of a state asks for help to control a significant security crisis.

Organization

The state corps are typically divided into battalions (Batalhões de Polícia Militar, BPM); the battalions are divided into companies (Companhias, Cia.); and the Companies are divided into "advanced posts" (Destacamento Policial Militar, DPM). Each of the state corps make their own choices regarding equipment, uniform, coat of arms and anthem. Each battalion in a corps may also have their own coat of arms.

Actions

The state corps typically have special units for riot control and special events, the Batalhão de Choque (Shock Battalion). They also contain their own special operations detachments, internal affairs services, canine, etc. Some also have cavalry units (Cavalaria). In some states, these units have different names.

Ranks

• Soldado (Private)
• Cabo (Corporal)
• 3º Sargento (3rd Sergeant)
• 2º Sargento (2nd Sergeant)
• 1º Sargento (1st Sergeant)
• Sub-Tenente (Sub Lieutenant)
• Cadete (Cadet, years 1-3)
• Aspirante (Student Officer, in training)
• 2º Tenente (2nd Lieutenant)
• 1º Tenente (1st Lieutenant)
• Capitão (Captain)
• Major
• Tenente-Coronel (Lieutenant-Colonel)
• Coronel (Colonel)