ADVANTAGES OF MOTORIZED POLICING USING MOTORCYCLES IN DOWNTOWN MANAUS IN THE 24TH CICOM AREA

Abstract

This scientific article examines the tactical, strategic, and operational advantages of motorcycle-based policing in Downtown (Historic Center) Manaus—an urban area that poses distinct challenges to public safety due to high pedestrian density, a saturated historic street network, and intense commercial activity, conditions that tend to foster opportunistic crime. The study discusses the “cage effect,” understood as the practical constraint imposed on four-wheeled patrol vehicles by heavy traffic and crowds, which can undermine rapid response and interception capacity in dynamic incidents. An exploratory, qualitative approach is adopted, grounded in documentary analysis of doctrinal manuals and productivity reports from the Military Police of Amazonas (PMAM), complemented by a literature review drawing on reference authors such as Denison Melo de Aguiar. Findings supported by the Capital Robbery Dashboard (2022–2025) indicate 1,804 pedestrian robberies within the 24th DIP area, highlighting that effective disruption of this offense depends on speed, mobility, and the ability to navigate physical obstacles—capabilities more consistently provided by motorcycle patrol units. The article concludes that strengthening and systematically implementing motorcycle patrolling in the 24th Cicom is essential to overcome crowd-related barriers, disrupt escape routes in narrow passages, and improve operational effectiveness in the complex urban environment of central Manaus.