THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH: THE LEGITIMACY OF THE MILITARY POLICE PARAMEDIC TEAM (ASU-PM) OF JOINVILLE CITY

Abstract

This article examines the institutional and social legitimacy of the Emergency Self-Aid Unit of the Military Police of Joinville (ASU-PM) at the intersection between public safety and health. An integrative literature review with a qualitative approach was adopted, encompassing constitutional and infralegal frameworks (Federal Constitution/1988; Law No. 8.080/1990; Ministry of Health Ordinance No. 2.048/2002; Ministry of Justice Ordinance No. 98/2022; CFM Resolution No. 1.671/2003; CBMSC guidelines; and internal regulations of the Military Police of Santa Catarina), as well as technical-scientific studies on pre-hospital care (standard and tactical). The selection included multidisciplinary databases and manual searches for normative documents, resulting in a final set of references capable of supporting legal, operational, and public health analyses. The findings indicate a clear legal basis for the non-invasive, trained, and supervised role of police officers in emergency self-aid, particularly in hostile or hard-to-reach environments. Furthermore, the results reveal doctrinal and operational convergence with similar experiences (COE/PMPR, GESAR/PMERJ, PMMG guidelines), with the adoption of recognized protocols (PHTLS; TCCC/MARCH). Lastly, the study highlighted the relevance of response time: regional studies indicate average SAMU response times ranging from 21.1 to 31 minutes, while the early presence of Military Police on the streets allows for faster initial interventions, especially in high-risk areas, aligning ASU-PM more closely with the clinical principle of the “Golden Hour.” Therefore, it is concluded that ASU-PM is legally legitimate, operationally necessary, and complements the public health system by filling access and time-response gaps in time-sensitive emergencies, without competing with SUS/SAMU. From the perspective of police science, ASU-PM represents an institutional practice aimed at preserving public order in its broadest sense, encompassing the protection of life, physical integrity, and public health.