The Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE) is a specialised unit of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police. Formed in the late 1970s, it is today the body in charge of high-risk operations, including hostage rescuing, and arrests and seizures in dangerous areas. BOPE is known for its effectiveness, rigorous training and heavily armed vehicles. Guided by precise commandments, motto, and values, the unit has conducted many successful operations. However, its methods have sparked criticism and accusations, raising important debates on the balance between security and human rights.
Images sourced from: Clarice Castro, Marcelo Horn, Carlos Magno, Governo do Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Horn
1 History, Symbol, Motto, and Commandments
1.1 History of BOPE
The Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais -Battalion of Special Police Operations- (BOPE) is one of the units of the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The unit originated in the late 1970s with the goal of creating a corps of highly trained officers to conduct special operations related to rescue and dangerous conflicts. In fact, the increasing crime rates and the growing issue of organised crime required a new specialised response. Notably, the unit was officialised on 19 January 1978, initially under the name of Núcleo da Companhia de Operações Especiais–Nucleus of the Special Operations Company–(NuCOE). The name later changed in 1982 to Companhia de Operações Especiais (COE)–-Special Operations Company–then Companhia Independente de Operações Especiais (Independent Special Operations Company), and finally, on 1 March 1991, BOPE. The unit is the brainchild of Colonel Paulo César Amendola. [source, source, source]
Since 2011, BOPE has been part of the Comando de Operações Especiais (COE, Special Operations Command) together with the Batalhão de Polícia de Choque (BPChq, Shock Police Battalion), the Batalhão de Ações com Cães (BAC, Canine Action Battalion), and the Grupamento Aeromóvel (GAM, Airmobile Group). [source]
1.2 Symbol of BOPE
The symbol and emblem of BOPE consists of a human skull skewered by a knife. Two handguns are crossed behind the skull. The unit itself, through its social media presence, specifies that this symbol has been the same since the birth of BOPE. Moreover, they explain that the skull is a representation of intelligence and knowledge, but at the same time death. The knife, on the other side, suggests the courage of the members and the secrecy of the mission. The knife in the skull is a representation of “victory over death.” [source]
The origin of this emblem goes back to the Second World War: a group of Alliance soldiers, entering a concentration camp, found a skull on a desk. One of them, drawing the dagger, stabbed the skull to demonstrate the victory of life over death. Finally, the two guns are the insignia of the military police. In fact, they also appear on the symbol of the Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (PMERIJ, Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State). [source]
1.3 Motto and Commandments of BOPE
As previously mentioned, the sentence “victory over death” symbolised in the emblem, is also a motto for the unit. Another known motto of BOPE is “Go and win!” Additionally, the unit has a list of commandments that the members need to follow. These include:
- Controlled aggression
- Emotional control
- Conscious discipline
- Esprit de Corps
- Flexibility
- Honesty
- Initiative
- Loyalty
- Leadership
- Perseverance
- Versatility.
2 Organisation
2.1 Place within State Structure
BOPE is part of the PMERIJ, which is headed by the Secretaria de Estado de Polícia Militar (State Secretariat of Military Police), under the State Government. PMERIJ is in fact divided into different specialised commands and battalions, of which BOPE is one. These units are all grouped in the Comando de Operações Especiais (COE, Special Operations Command). COE falls under the Subsecretaria de Gestão Operacional (SsGO, Sub-secretariat of Operational Management), a division of the State Secretariat of Military Police. [source]
2.2 Key Figures
Colonel Paulo César Amendola: Founder of the unit. Son of a Brasilian Army Captain born in 1944, he joined the Rio de Janeiro State Military Police in 1964.
Colonel Aristheu de Góes Lopes: Current commander of the unit since 29 April 2024. He previously served as the commander of the 12th Batalhão de Polícia Militar -Military Police Battalion- (BPM) in Niterói, Brazil.
[source] [source] [source] [source]
2.3 Recruitment of BOPE
The first requirement to join BOPE is that the candidate must have been an officer in the PMERJ for at least two years. Secondly, after passing a first physical, psychological, and medical evaluation, the applicant has to choose between two training courses: the Curso de Operações Especiais (COEsp, Special Operations Course) or the Curso de Ações Táticas (CAT, Tactical Actions Course).
COEsp: this course lasts 4 months. The candidates are trained to be able to conduct rescue and combat operations. They receive education on artillery, ambush, patrol, survival, first aid, negotiation, weapons, and self-defense, plus they undertake theoretical classes. They are also taught human rights and communication. The success rate is 20%. Afterwards, those who pass become “Caveira” (which means skull). At the moment, only those who already passed the CAT or similar courses can undergo this training.
CAT: this course allows officers and enlisted men to join BOPE. It lasts 5 weeks, in which the candidates work day and night shifts in an urban environment. Furthermore, they undergo tactical preparations. Those who pass become “Raio” (which means ray).
2.4 Units
BOPE is internally divided into different units, each with a specific function. Examples are the Unidade de Intervenção Tática (UIT, Tactical Intervention Unit) and the Unidade de Engenharia, Demolição e Transporte (UEDT, Engineering, Demolition, and Transportation Unit).
UIT: this unit is divided into 3 groups that respond to critical situations:
- Grupo de Negociação e Análise (GNA, Negotiations and Analysis Group)
- Grupo de Atiradores de Precisão (GAP, Precision Sniper Group)
- Grupo de Retomada e Resgate (GRR, Recovery and Rescue Group)
UEDT: this unit is specialised in clearing the way for police operations where it is obstructed, and they guarantee the movements of police vehicles.
[source]
3 Equipment of BOPE
3.1 Weapons
Some of the known equipment of BOPE includes weapons from several countries:
- Brazil
PT92 and PT100 semi-automatic pistols
9M973 pistols
MD2 assault rifles
- United States
M4A1, M16A2, UM-1 Ultramatch assault rifles
AR-10A4 CBF battle rifles
M24 sniper rifles
- Italy
M3 and SPAS-15 shotguns
- Belgium
P90 submachine guns
Minimi Mk2 light machine guns
- Germany
G41 assault rifles
G3 sniper rifles
PSG1, MASG90, G3SG1 sniper rifles
MP5K and A2 submachine guns
HK21A1 light machine guns.
In addition, for rescue missions, they carry electroshock weapons and cameras.
[source]
3.2 Vehicles
- Caveirão: these are BOPE’s armored vehicles, in use since the early 2000s to enter conflict zones such as the favelas (Rio de Janeiro’s poorest and most dangerous neighbourhoods). They have armored plating and they function as support for tactical units. The name means big skull, reminiscent of BOPE’s emblem. [source]
- Caveirinhas: smaller semi-armored trucks in use since 2022. Their use is mainly for patrol and urban mobility. The name means small skull. [source]
3.3 Armor and Kit
The officers of BOPE are provided with armor and kit to wear that reach 25-30 kg in weight. In particular, they wear specific shoes, vests and backpacks armed with knives, pocket knives, GPS Radios, pistols and rifles. Furthermore, they carry food, such as cereal bars, to cover multiple days of operations, as well as cameras to record, night vision goggles, a watertank, and smoke, light, and sound grenades. Finally, they have first aid kits. [source]
4 Tactical-Operational Information
4.1 Core Purpose of BOPE
As previously mentioned, the main goal of BOPE is to conduct high-risk operations. For this reason, their role is intertwined with counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, drug raids, and engagement with dangerous criminals. [source]
4.2 Key Operations
Below are listed some of the most known operations conducted by the BOPE.
Bus 174 Hijacking (2000): BOPE took part in the operations of hostage rescue during the hijacking of Bus 174 in June 2000.
Vila Cruzeiro (2010): BOPE conducted a joint operation in Vila Cruzeiro in November 2010 against drug traffickers. As a result, seeing the arrival of the police force, the criminals initiated a confrontation that led to seizures and arrests.
Complexo do Alemão (2010): After a series of attacks from criminal gangs in Rio de Janeiro, including firing of buses and gunfire, BOPE answered with one of its largest operations. Specifically, on 28 November 2010, 3,500 men, 23 armored vehicles and 7 helicopters occupied the Complexo do Alemão, resulting in weapons seizures and renovated state control in the area.
Rocinha (2011): BOPE conducted in November 2011 an operation in the neighbourhood Rocinha to capture a known drug trafficker. In that case, the unit deployed around 1,500 officers, armored vehicles and helicopters, resulting in the capture of the target.
Maré Complex (2014): The unit, together with the Armed Forces, conducted an operation in 2014 to gain control again of the Complexo da Maré, an area dominated by criminal gangs. As a result, this operation ended with many seizures and arrests.
Rio-Niterói Bridge (2019): BOPE conducted a hostage rescue operation following the hijacking of Bus 2520 on 20 August 2019. A BOPE sniper shot the hijacker and freed the hostages.
[source]
5 Controversy
Despite much praise for successful operations that led to arrests, seizures, and rescue of hostages, BOPE has been the subject of several critical discussions. Particularly, deliberations focused on the unit’s use of force and the effect on the citizens of the affected areas. Amnesty International and human right organisations have often mentioned BOPE’s operations and equipment (such as the armed vehicles) as damaging for residents. Specifically, the main allegations against BOPE include use of excessive force, extrajudicial killings, human rights violation and corruption. [source, source]
6 The Future of BOPE
At the present time, BOPE continues to operate as a special unit of the Rio de Janeiro military police. Its future operative life depends on changes in public security policies, as well as the evolution of crime in the city. Tactics and equipment are also continuously evolving, dependent on technological advancements, along with most recent approaches to intelligence and law enforcement. However, BOPE cannot ignore the public trust issue and the controversial allegations. In fact, community engagement and respect of human rights represent a fundamental aspect of effective law enforcement.
7 Conclusion
In summary, the Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais is a critical part of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police, conducting highly dangerous and relevant law enforcement operations. The unit, since its inception in the 1970s, has grown and evolved in equipment, training, and tactics. Despite the conduction of successful operations, the allegation of excessive force, human rights violations, and indiscriminate killings cast a shadow on BOPE’s activities. Therefore, BOPE’s future faces the same challenges as many other security forces around the globe: how can law enforcement maximise effective security while protecting human rights?
