Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State

The Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State (Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) (PMERJ) like other military polices in Brazil is a reserve and ancillary force of the Brazilian Army, and part of the System of Public Security and Brazilian Social Protection. Its members are called "State Military" person.

The primary mission of PMERJ is ostensibly preventive policing for the maintenance of public order in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Under the United Nations, in cooperation with the Brazilian Army, the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State has served in Angola, Mozambique, East-Timor, Sudan, and Haiti.

History
The first militarized police in Portugal (when Brazil was still a colony) was the Royal Police Guard of Lisbon (Guarda Real de Polícia de Lisboa), established in 1801, which followed the model of the National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) 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 guard 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 became extinct, and was replaced by the Municipal Guard Corps of Volunteers, a type of security force similar to the 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, under provinces presidents' control. In 1835, the president of Rio de Janeiro province created the "Rio de Janeiro Province Police Corp" (Guarda Policial da Província do Rio de Janeiro).

With the Proclamation of the Republic, Brazil adopted a constitution based on the United States, where the states have a large autonomy. The Corps of Police began to be administered by the states and became smaller regional armies, with infantry, cavalry, artillery, and later, even with air forces. This dangerous situation to the national security remained until the rise of Getúlio Vargas dictatorial government in 1930s, when he abolished states autonomy, and the Brazilian army began its control over states military polices and firefighters corps.

Organization
The PMERJ is operationally organized into Intermediary Commands or Policing Area Command (Comandos Intermediários/Comandos de Policiamento de Área), Military Police Battalions, companies, and platoons; and administratively, in departments.

The battalions are based in major urban centers, and their companies and platoons are distributed according to population density in cities. The Military Police of Rio de Janeiro is present in all cities of the State.

Commands and Battalions of Military Police
These are the Policing Area Commands and their respective battalions. Cities and neighborhoods indicate the location of their headquarters.


 * 1st Policing Area Command – city of Rio de Janeiro
 * 1st Battalion – Estácio
 * 2nd Battalion – Botafogo
 * 3rd Battalion – Méier
 * 4th Battalion – São Cristovão
 * 5th Battalion – Saúde
 * 6th Battalion – Tijuca
 * 13th Battalion – Downtown
 * 16th Battalion – Penha
 * 17th Battalion – Ilha do Governador
 * 19th Battalion – Copacabana
 * 22nd Battalion – Maré
 * 23rd Battalion – Leblon
 * 1st Independent Company (Governor's Palace Guard) – Laranjeiras


 * 2nd Policing Area Command – city of Rio de Janeiro
 * 9th Battalion – Rocha Miranda
 * 14th Battalion – Bangu
 * 18th Battalion – Jacarepaguá
 * 27th Battalion – Santa Cruz
 * 31st Battalion – Barra da Tijuca
 * 40th Battalion – Campo Grande
 * 41st Battalion – Irajá


 * 3rd Policing Area Command – city of Mesquita
 * 15th Battalion – city of Duque de Caxias
 * 20th Battalion – city of Mesquita
 * 21st Battalion – city of São João de Meriti
 * 24th Battalion – city of Queimados
 * 34th Battalion – city of Magé
 * 39th Battalion – city of Belford Roxo


 * 4th Policing Area Command – city of Niterói
 * 7th Battalion – city of São Gonçalo
 * 12th Battalion – city of Niterói
 * 25th Battalion – city of Cabo Frio
 * 35th Battalion – city of Itaboraí


 * 5th Policing Area Command – city of Volta Redonda
 * 10th Battalion – city of Barra do Piraí
 * 28th Battalion – city of Volta Redonda
 * 33rd Battalion – city of Angra dos Reis
 * 37th Battalion – city of Resende


 * 6th Policing Area Command – city of Campos dos Goytacazes
 * 8th Battalion – city of Campos dos Goytacazes
 * 29th Battalion – city of Itaperuna
 * 32nd Battalion – city of Macaé
 * 36th Battalion – city of Santo Antônio de Pádua


 * 7th Policing Area Command – city of Petrópolis
 * 11th Battalion – city of Nova Friburgo
 * 26th Battalion – city of Petrópolis
 * 30th Battalion – city of Teresópolis
 * 38th Battalion – city of Três Rios

Special Units

 * Mounted Police Regiment;
 * 2 Highway Patrol Battalions;
 * 5 Environmental Protection Units;
 * Riot Control Battalion;
 * Special Police Operations Battalion.
 * Police Operations with Dogs Battalion (K-9 Unit)
 * Railway Police Groupment;
 * Airmobile Groupment;
 * Maritime Groupment.

Administrative Commands

 * Department of Education:
 * Dom João VI Military Police Academy (to officer cadets);
 * Military Police Formation Center (to non-commissioned officers and soldiers).
 * Department of Logistic Support.
 * Department of Personnel.
 * Department of Finance.
 * Department of Intelligence.
 * Department of Social Assistance (welfare).
 * Social Communication Center
 * Communications and Informatic Center.
 * Department of Health:
 * Military Police Central Hospital, Rio de Janeiro city;
 * Military Police Hospital, in Niteroi;
 * 4 Clinics;
 * Veterinary Center;
 * Dentistry Center;
 * Reahabilitation Center (Physical therapy).

Uniforms
Since 1975, the PMERJ use dark blue in their uniforms on blue with black trousers.

Ranks
The PMERJ has the same hierarchical classification of the Brazilian Army, with another type of insignias.

Ranks and insignia
All rank insignia are worn on the epaulettes of the shirt, except for sergeants, corporal and soldiers, which are worn on each sleeve, below the institutional patch.

Campaigns against crime

 * 2010 Rio de Janeiro Security Crisis