Military Police of São Paulo State
| Military Police of Sao Paulo State Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | PMESP |
| Motto | Loyalty and Constancy Lealdade e Constância |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | December 15, 1831 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Map of police jurisdiction. | |
| Size | 248,209.426 km2 (95,834.195 sq mi) |
| Population | 41,055,734 (2006) |
| Constituting instrument |
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| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | São Paulo |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo State Military Police) is a military law enforcement agency of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is the largest state police force in Brazil. According to São Paulo state law, the authorized strength of the Military Police is 93,802 personnel. However, the actual number of active personnel is approximately 80,000, in several battalions throughout the state as well as within the Greater São Paulo region (Grande São Paulo) which itself comprises 40 cities and towns.
It should not be confused with the Military Police of the Armed Forces, which are the Army Police (Brazil) (Polícia do Exército), the Air Force Police (Polícia da Aeronáutica) and the Police Company of the Naval Battalion (Companhia de Polícia do Batalhão Naval).
In Brazil, State Military Police Officers are considered military personnel by the Brazilian constitution, however, they perform police duties among civilian populations. In certain cases, they can also act as reserve forces for the Brazilian Army.
Under the United Nations, in cooperation with the Brazilian Army, the Military Police of São Paulo State has served in Angola, Mozambique, East-Timor, Sudan, and Haiti.