OVERT POLICING AND LETHAL VIOLENCE REDUCTION IN THE URBAN AMAZON: AN ANALYSIS OF THE MILITARY POLICE OF AMAZONAS' PERFORMANCE IN THE EAST ZONE

Abstract

This article analyzes the effectiveness of the visible policing tactics employed by the Military Police of Amazonas (PMAM) in the face of high rates of lethal violence in the "Urban Amazon," with a specific focus on the East Zone of Manaus. The study begins by problematizing the inadequacy of the random patrolling model in territories characterized by geographical complexity and the dominance of criminal factions. The central objective is to investigate the correlation between the spatial distribution of homicides and the allocation of police resources, evaluating the feasibility of implementing place-oriented policing strategies (hot spots). The methodology adopted is exploratory and descriptive in nature, with a mixed approach (quantitative-qualitative), based on a literature review and document analysis of data from the Integrated Public Security System (SISP) for the years 2023 and 2024. The results show a severe concentration of intentional lethal violent crimes (CVLI) in micro-areas of the East Zone, such as the Jorge Teixeira neighborhood, driven by drug trafficking disputes. It is concluded that a sustainable reduction in lethality requires a transition from diffuse policing to operations based on evidence and criminal intelligence, respecting the legal criteria of reasonable suspicion and fundamental rights.