Your Privacy Choices
In a previous article (https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/03/03/weapons-rios-crime-war-pmerj-side/), TFB showed some images of PMERJ – Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro in the frontline of the war against crime in Rio. Being the major responsible for street/community patrol and immediate response to criminal actions, it’s no wonder that the Military Police’s deep commitment at such is also reflected by the number of agents killed on- and off-duty in the State in the January-May 2017 period: 83 “Mikes”, as they are commonly called! Yessir, there’s a war going on here!
However, it should be recalled that there’s also a PCERJ – Polícia Civil do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, whose 10,000-or-so agents manning 187 precincts, or districts, throughout the State have the primary responsibility of doing investigative work, executing search and arrest warrants, etc. This is carried out not only by the DPs (Delegacias de Polícia, Police Precincts) involved in the particular cases, but also receives special attention from the CORE – Coordenadoria de Recursos Especiais (Special Resources Coordination), the SpecOps outfit. The varied types of weapons used result not only from old and recent purchases, but from the allowed use of seized guns, as well.
Time for a quick look at the “Charlies” (the Civil Police guys) in action! Images are courtesy of Oyoy Kanamox.
The 5.56x45mm Colt M16A2 Commando (a.k.a. Model RO735B) carbine is a long-time issue weapon for Rio’s Civil Police members.
This agent is using his Commando with two 30-round magazines taped together in an expedient arrangement.
This long barrel/short handguard, fixed stock carbine is just one of the many AR-15 genres to be found in civil police hands in action in Rio de Janeiro.
A retractable-stock 7.62x51mm Heckler & Koch G3 is seen here in action fitted with an EOTech holographic sight.
As their colleague handcuffs a suspect on the ground, other civil police officers watch, holding (L-to-R) another HK with the stock fully retracted and a 7.62x39mm AK-type rifle with a 40-round waffle magazine and side-folder stock (a polymer-construction Tapco variant?), plus a VFG assembly. The guy opening the armored car’s door in the distant background has an M16A2 Commando hanging from his neck. That’s a gun mix, huh?
This other agent arriving on the same scene is carrying a foldable-stock FAL rifle also fitted with a vertical fore grip. Yes, he’s a southpaw, as confirmed by the left-side holstered pistol, apparently a stainless steel Taurus PT 92 or PT 100.
Sometimes (hairy times, that is), one has to face a fighting situation in a Rio street armed only with a pistol. These agents are so armed with a Taurus PT 24/7 PRO (left) and a Taurus PT 840P, both in .40 S&W.
This 9x19mm Heckler & Koch retractable stock MP5 submachine gun still in current use displays an early-model, slimline handguard, while the curved magazine was of more recent introduction. Rifle in background is a 7.62x51mm HK G3.
The 7.62x51mm Armalite SuperSASS is the basic sniper rifle employed by the Civil Police CORE, the SpecOps group.
Also from Armalite comes the AR-10A4s in service, all fitted with EOTech sights and vertical fore grips.
