Military Police (Brazil)

Military Police (Brazil)

In Brazil, the Military Police (Portuguese: Polícia Militar, also known as PM, ) are preventive state police forces responsible for maintaining public order within the States and the Federal District, and are subordinate to the state governments. The investigation of crimes, such as detective work, forensics and criminal investigation, is handled by the Civil Police forces of the states.

Each state has its own Military Police, with different formations, rules and uniforms. The military police forces of the states are distinct from the provost forces of the army, navy and airforce.

The Military Polices and Military Firefighters Corps are also reserve troops and ancillary forces of the Brazilian Army. In time of war (or other emergencies) the military police forces can be pressed into federal service.

The provost corps for each of the Brazilian Armed Forces: Army Police (Portuguese: Polícia do Exército, PE) for the Army, Navy Police (Portuguese: Polícia da Marinha) for the Navy, and Air Force Police (Portuguese: Polícia da Aeronaútica, PA) for the Air Force.

There is also a joint National Public Security Force (Portuguese: Força Nacional de Segurança Pública), created in 1999. This force is composed of the most qualified State Military Police personnel from all the states, only to be used when the governor of a state asks for help to control a significant security crisis.