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Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar (Portuguese for Tobias de Aguiar Ostensive Rounds) are patrols, mostly known by its acronym ROTA (Portuguese for route), is the special force of the São Paulo Military Police, which aims flexibility and fast reaction. Used in the need to control civil unrest, in restore of public order, tactical attack and defense of urban areas. Its official title is 1º Batalhão de Policiamento de Choque (Portuguese for 1st Police Shock Battalion "Tobias de Aguiar"). A Brazilian police shock unit is a tactical unit.
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Fame
ROTA is one of the most efficient, respected and feared police forces in Brazil, whose fame is because of a 1993 non-fictional account by journalist Caco Barcellos in the book Rota 66, about the execution-like deaths of criminals when exchanging gunfire with some ROTA members. The 1970s Chevrolet Veraneio police car was the symbol of fear between criminals, when they saw a gray Veraneio coming, they were afraid. ROTA members are also known as "Boinas Negras" (black berets).
Firearms
Various types of firearms are used by ROTA:
Vehicles
ROTA uses SUVs to hold four officers and arrested criminals in the back. Since the 1960s, ROTA has used the following cars:
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.