It is the largest state police force in the country, with over 100,000 personnel in its ranks, in several battalions throughout the state as well as within the Greater São Paulo region (Grande São Paulo) which itself comprises 40 cities and towns.

Under the United Nations, in cooperation with the Brazilian Army, the Military Police of São Paulo State has served in Angola, Mozambique, East-Timor, Sudan, and Haiti.

São Paulo Fire Fighters belongs to PMESP and are equally structured as a state police organization.

The PMESP is further divided into specialized units as follows: The police force was founded by Brigadier General Rafael Tobias de Aguiar on December 15, 1831, originally as the São Paulo Municipal Imperial Guard.

Conte Lopes, now a political representative, was a commanding officer (ranked as captain) behind the famous ROTA units in the 1970s and 1980s.