Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar

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1st Police Shock Battalion "Tobias de Aguiar" unit badge

Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar (ROTA) logo

Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar (Portuguese for Tobias de Aguiar Ostensive Patrols) are patrols, mostly known by their acronym ROTA. They are the special force of the São Paulo Military Police, which focus on flexibility and fast reaction. Used in the event of civil unrest to restore public order, and in tactical operations and defense in urban areas. Its official title is 1º Batalhão de Policiamento de Choque (Portuguese for 1st Police Shock Battalion "Tobias de Aguiar").^[1] A Brazilian police shock unit is a tactical unit.

History[]

In 1970, in response to a wave of guerrilla bank robberies carried out in São Paulo against the military government, the 1st Battalion of the São Paulo Military Police, known as "Tobias de Aguiar", was converted into the "Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar" (Tobias de Aguiar Ostensive Patrols) battalion, which was kept after the defeat of the guerrillas as a type of SWAT unit. In the decades that followed, the battalion has been a target for criticism in Brazil due to their alleged use of excessive violence and non-compliance with the law, having been compared to "State-owned Death Squads" ^[2] in a 1993 non-fictional account by journalist Caco Barcellos in the book Rota 66, which detailed the execution-like deaths of criminals after exchanging gunfire with ROTA members.

Firearms[]

Various types of firearms are used by ROTA:

• Taurus PT24/7 - Pistol
• IMBEL FAL - Assault Rifle
• Taurus/FAMAE SAF - Submachine Gun
• M16 rifle - Assault Rifle
• IMBEL IA2 - Assault Rifle

Vehicles[]

ROTA uses SUVs to hold four officers and arrested criminals in the back. Since the 1960s, ROTA has used the following cars:

• 1960s - 1980's - Chevrolet Veraneio
• 1990s - Chevrolet Veraneio Custom D-20
• 1990s - 2000's - Chevrolet Blazer
• 2010s - Toyota Hilux SW4
• 2014s - Chevrolet TrailBlazer

After 40 years using GM cars, in 2011 The Military Police of São Paulo State has recently acquired 60 Toyota's Hilux SW4 to the ROTA battalion. There are still some Chevrolet Blazers being used. Those that are being replaced by the Toyotas have been donated to other battalions.

References[]

See also[]

• Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (Similar unit in Rio de Janeiro)