Rio's Armed Municipal Force Begins Targeted Patrols in Theft Hotspots

Overview

• Patrols began on March 15 in Jardim de Alah, Rodoviária Novo Rio, Terminal Gentileza and Estação Leopoldina, using foot, motorcycle and vehicle teams.
• Operations follow a Directed Mission Board (QMD) that assigns exact blocks, schedules and tactics, with an automatic alert if an agent leaves the zone for more than 15 minutes.
• The initial 600 career guards completed over 500 hours of training supervised by Senasp and the PRF, are equipped with 9mm pistols plus non‑lethal tools, and 25% of the first cohort are women.
• The unit targets street robberies and thefts, conducts no criminal investigations or actions against organized crime, and is framed as complementary to state police.
• Only tenured guards may carry firearms for operational duty, two cases at the Supreme Federal Court contest hiring and arming rules, and the city plans phased expansion toward 4,200 agents by 2028 with more training slots announced.