BEFORE THE CRISIS CONSOLIDATES: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE FIRST RESPONDER IN CRITICAL POLICE INCIDENTS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70365/2764-0779.2025.162

Keywords:

First responder, Police crisis, Crisis management, Initial response, Tactical policing

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of the first responder in police incidents that can be classified as crises. Based on empirical data from over 21,000 reports in the REDS system of the Civil Police of Minas Gerais, and supported by both national and international doctrinal reviews, the study highlights the importance of a structured initial response by the first officer on the scene. The methodology involved both automated and manual analysis of incidents, using objective criteria based on operational protocols and textual indicators. The findings point to the need for the institutionalization of the first responder role, broad technical training, standardized crisis triage protocols, and stronger integration between police forces. The study contributes to the development of criteria for early crisis recognition and reinforces the first responder’s role as a decisive link in critical incident response.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Dra. Ana Caroline Marques Pereira Mello, Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais

    Investigator at the Civil Police of the State of Minas Gerais since 2018. Holds a postgraduate degree in Criminology from Universidade Pitágoras Unopar Anhanguera (2024) and a postgraduate degree in Public Security and the Penitentiary System from the same institution (2024). Earned a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2022), a Master’s degree in Plant Biology from the same university (2017), and a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (2014). During her Master’s and Ph.D., she worked on leaf and floral anatomy applied to phylogenetic analysis within the Malpighiaceae family, at the Laboratory of Anatomy of Secretory and Reproductive Structures. Participated in a scientific initiation program in the Department of Botany, in the Plant Anatomy Laboratory, contributing to a project on the development of reproductive structures in the subtribe Mauritiinae, family Arecaceae (2013–2015).

  • Luiz Giovanni Guimarães Guedes, Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais

    Postgraduate in Public Security and the Penitentiary System (Anhanguera, 2024) and holds a bachelor’s and licentiate degree in Physical Education (UFV, 2008). Civil police officer since 2010, graduated from the Civil Police Academy of Minas Gerais. Served in the Department of Homicide and Protection of Persons (2010–2014) and the State Department of Special Operations (2014–2018). Since 2018, has been part of CORE – Coordination of Special Resources, where he led a tactical team and currently heads the Specialized Training Sector of COE – Strategic Operations Coordination. Coordinates internal training, exchanges with special forces, and has participated three times in the coordination of the COP – Police Operations Course. Instructor at the Police Academy (Acadepol) since 2013 in the subject Police Action Techniques.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-16

Data Availability Statement

The data used in this study is of a sensitive nature, as it consists of police incident records extracted from the REDS system (Social Defense Event Records) of the Civil Police of Minas Gerais. Due to the confidential content and the risk of indirect identification of individuals involved, the data is not publicly available at this time. However, we are committed to making an anonymized and processed version of the dataset available in an appropriate repository as soon as the manuscript is accepted for publication, in accordance with current ethical and legal standards.

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 9 (2025): Avante: Revista Acadêmica da Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais

Section

Original Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Avante: Academic Journal of the Police of Minas Gerais

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

MELLO, Ana Caroline Marques Pereira; GUEDES, Luiz Giovanni Guimarães. BEFORE THE CRISIS CONSOLIDATES: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE FIRST RESPONDER IN CRITICAL POLICE INCIDENTS. Avante: Academic Journal of the Police of Minas Gerais, [S. l.], v. 1, n. 9, 2025. DOI: 10.70365/2764-0779.2025.162. Disponível em: https://revistaavante.policiacivil.mg.gov.br/index.php/avante/article/view/162. Acesso em: 19 dec. 2025.