BOPE

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Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais
Special Police Operations Battalion

Image:BOPE.gif

Active: 1991–present

Headed by: Colonel Pinheiro Neto

Type: Special forces

Role: Urban warfare
Law enforcement
Counter-terrorism

Garrison/HQ: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nickname: BOPE

BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais, or Special Police Operations Battalion), is the elite group of the military police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BOPE policemen in training

BOPE units have extensive experience in urban warfare as well as progression in confined and restricted environments. It also utilizes equipment deemed more powerful than traditional civilian law enforcement, such as weapons chambered in .50 BMG.

The force has a fleet of armored vehicles, which are known as “Pacificador” (Peacemaker), or “Caveirão" (Big Skull). These vehicles are equipped with heavy armament: firing ports for the FN FAL or H&K G36 rifle, and .50 caliber machine guns in the back and front.

BOPE using the caveirão as a cover

BOPE missions include the following: Extracting police officers or civilians injured in confrontations; serving high-risk arrest warrants; rescuing hostages; suppressing prison rebellions; and special missions in swamps or mountainous terrain.

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