Despite its name change, initially the DFSP only served in the Federal District, but acted at the national level as the maritime police.

Afterwards, the DFSP improved its structure to mimic the model of the United States FBI and police forces in England and Canada, as well as to expand operations throughout the whole Brazilian territory.

With an area of expertise that covers all national territory, the Federal Police adopts a structure similar to that of the state Civil Police forces throughout the country, but with an administrative structure that allows planning, coordination and centralized control with decentralized execution.

Integration with the other federal and state government agencies on a routine basis occur through formal requests, but eventually there is a high level of coordination.

The Director-General provides accounting and technical support agencies in Brasília, entrusted with the tasks of planning, coordination and control.

The Comando de Operações Táticas (COT; English: Tactical Operations Command) of the Federal Police was created in 1987 by the Ministry of Justice through the Federal Police Department – DPF with a mission of responding to terrorist attacks inside the country.

The headquarters of the COT is in Brasília, in an area of 40 thousand square meters, located in Police Sector South, from where they send operators for missions throughout the country.

[8] In addition to the routine patrolling, surveillance is carried out in the international traffic in dozens of ships docking and undocking in major Brazilian ports.

The Nepom the police receive special training in the Navy of Brazil, and is enabled in the category of Crew of State vessel.

Was established in 1986, because the demand for transportation to any place, quickly, and the need for air support in the actions and tactics without having to depend on the Armed Forces.