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Difference between revisions of "Police ranks of the USA"

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The United States police rank model is generally [[paramilitary]] in structure.
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The United States police rank model is generally [[Wikipedia:paramilitary]] in structure.
  
 
==Ranks==
 
==Ranks==
 
Although the large and varied number of federal, state, and local police and sheriff's departments have different ranks, a general model, from highest to lowest rank, would be:
 
Although the large and varied number of federal, state, and local police and sheriff's departments have different ranks, a general model, from highest to lowest rank, would be:
  
*[[Chief of police]]/[[police commissioner]]/[[Superintendent (police)|superintendent]]/[[sheriff]]: The title ''police commissioner'' is used mainly by large metropolitan departments, while ''chief of police'' is associated with small and medium-sized municipalities; both are typically appointed by a [[mayor]] or selected by the [[City council|city council or commission]]. In some cities, "commissioner" is the civilian official or member of the board of officials in charge of the department, while a "chief" is the top uniformed officer answering to the commissioner or commission. In very large departments, such as the [[New York City Police Department]], there may be several deputy and assistant commissioners, all civilian, some of whom outrank the chief of department and others on par with the uniformed chief. There may be a chief of operations who is second in command to the top-ranking chief. In contrast, [[sheriffs in the United States]] are usually elected officials, one in each [[County (United States)|county]], who head the ''sheriff's department'' (or ''sheriff's office'').  
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*[[Wikipedia:Chief of police]]/[[Wikipedia:police commissioner]]/[[Wikipedia:Superintendent (police)|superintendent]]/[[Wikipedia:sheriff]]: The title ''police commissioner'' is used mainly by large metropolitan departments, while ''chief of police'' is associated with small and medium-sized municipalities; both are typically appointed by a [[Wikipedia:mayor]] or selected by the [[Wikipedia:City council|city council or commission]]. In some cities, "commissioner" is the civilian official or member of the board of officials in charge of the department, while a "chief" is the top uniformed officer answering to the commissioner or commission. In very large departments, such as the [[Wikipedia:New York City Police Department]], there may be several deputy and assistant commissioners, all civilian, some of whom outrank the chief of department and others on par with the uniformed chief. There may be a chief of operations who is second in command to the top-ranking chief. In contrast, [[Wikipedia:sheriffs in the United States]] are usually elected officials, one in each [[Wikipedia:County (United States)|county]], who head the ''sheriff's department'' (or ''sheriff's office'').  
  
 
*Assistant Chief/Assistant Commissioner/Assistant Superintendent/Assistant Sheriff: Only seen in some departments. In New York City, assistant chiefs head borough commands bureaus.
 
*Assistant Chief/Assistant Commissioner/Assistant Superintendent/Assistant Sheriff: Only seen in some departments. In New York City, assistant chiefs head borough commands bureaus.
  
*Deputy Chief/Deputy Commissioner/Deputy Superintendent/[[undersheriff]]: The top lieutenant to the chief of police, commissioner, superintendent, or sheriff; may or may not have a specific area of responsibility. In some places the undersheriff is the [[Corrections officer|warden]] of the [[county jail]]. The [[New York City Sheriff's Office]] has five undersheriffs: each one is responsible for a [[borough of New York City]], with the Sheriff of the City of New York overseeing all of them.
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*Deputy Chief/Deputy Commissioner/Deputy Superintendent/[[Wikipedia:undersheriff]]: The top lieutenant to the chief of police, commissioner, superintendent, or sheriff; may or may not have a specific area of responsibility. In some places the undersheriff is the [[Wikipedia:Corrections officer|warden]] of the [[Wikipedia:county jail]]. The [[Wikipedia:New York City Sheriff's Office]] has five undersheriffs: each one is responsible for a [[Wikipedia:borough of New York City]], with the Sheriff of the City of New York overseeing all of them.
  
*[[Inspector]]/[[commander]]/[[colonel]]: Sometime have an insignia of a [[1 star rank|single star]], analogous to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier generals]], but in other areas wear a gold or silver eagle, similar to a [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]]. "Inspector" is also used as a term for "detective" in the [[San Francisco Police Department]] and [[Chicago Police Department]] but is two ranks above captain in New York and in the [[Philadelphia Police Department]]. In New York, inspectors command divisions, which may be groups of precincts within a borough or specialized branches of the police service. The ''Colonel'' rank is extremely rare and is only used in the [[Baltimore Police Department]].
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*[[Wikipedia:Inspector]]/[[Wikipedia:commander]]/[[Wikipedia:colonel]]: Sometime have an insignia of a [[Wikipedia:1 star rank|single star]], analogous to [[Wikipedia:Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier generals]], but in other areas wear a gold or silver eagle, similar to a [[Wikipedia:Colonel (United States)|colonel]]. "Inspector" is also used as a term for "detective" in the [[Wikipedia:San Francisco Police Department]] and [[Wikipedia:Chicago Police Department]] but is two ranks above captain in New York and in the [[Wikipedia:Philadelphia Police Department]]. In New York, inspectors command divisions, which may be groups of precincts within a borough or specialized branches of the police service. The ''Colonel'' rank is extremely rare and is only used in the [[Wikipedia:Baltimore Police Department]].
  
*[[Major]]/deputy inspector: Sometimes have an insignia of a gold or silver [[oak]] leaf, similar to a [[Major (United States)|major]] or [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. In the [[Baltimore Police Department]], [[New Orleans Police Department]], and [[Atlanta Police Department]] majors supervise [[police station]]s.
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*[[Wikipedia:Major]]/deputy inspector: Sometimes have an insignia of a gold or silver [[Wikipedia:oak]] leaf, similar to a [[Wikipedia:Major (United States)|major]] or [[Wikipedia:Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. In the [[Wikipedia:Baltimore Police Department]], [[Wikipedia:New Orleans Police Department]], and [[Wikipedia:Atlanta Police Department]] majors supervise [[Wikipedia:police station]]s.
  
*[[Police captain|Captain]]: Two gold or silver bars ("Railroad tracks"). Often supervises a [[police station]] but can supervise another division or unit (detectives, patrol, etc.) in smaller departments and only certain sections of a police station in larger departments. In NYC captains are the normal commanders of precincts.
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*[[Wikipedia:Police captain|Captain]]: Two gold or silver bars ("Railroad tracks"). Often supervises a [[Wikipedia:police station]] but can supervise another division or unit (detectives, patrol, etc.) in smaller departments and only certain sections of a police station in larger departments. In NYC captains are the normal commanders of precincts.
  
* [[Lieutenant]]: A single gold or silver bar, who supervises two to three or more sergeants. Lieutenants can supervise an entire watch shift of a police station or detective squad ([[Narcotics]], [[Homicide]], etc.) in larger police departments and entire precincts in smaller police departments.
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* [[Wikipedia:Lieutenant]]: A single gold or silver bar, who supervises two to three or more sergeants. Lieutenants can supervise an entire watch shift of a police station or detective squad ([[Wikipedia:Narcotics]], [[Wikipedia:Homicide]], etc.) in larger police departments and entire precincts in smaller police departments.
  
* [[Sergeant]]: Three inverted chevrons, a police officer who supervises an entire watch shift in smaller departments and areas of a precinct and individual detective squads in larger departments.
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* [[Wikipedia:Sergeant]]: Three inverted chevrons, a police officer who supervises an entire watch shift in smaller departments and areas of a precinct and individual detective squads in larger departments.
  
* [[Detective]]/Inspector/Investigator: An investigatory specialist, usually working in [[plainclothes|plain clothes]]. This may be in several classes that correspond to higher supervisory and pay grades. In NYC, technically a designation: detectives do not exactly outrank police officers albeit they are in charge of cases and are often senior in years of service and so have a certain degree of authority beyond police officers in specific situations.
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* [[Wikipedia:Detective]]/Inspector/Investigator: An investigatory specialist, usually working in [[Wikipedia:plainclothes|plain clothes]]. This may be in several classes that correspond to higher supervisory and pay grades. In NYC, technically a designation: detectives do not exactly outrank police officers albeit they are in charge of cases and are often senior in years of service and so have a certain degree of authority beyond police officers in specific situations.
  
* [[Police officer|Officer]]/Deputy/[[Police corporal|Corporal]]: A regular officer/deputy wears no rank insignia, and there may be several pay grades.
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* [[Wikipedia:Police officer|Officer]]/Deputy/[[Wikipedia:Police corporal|Corporal]]: A regular officer/deputy wears no rank insignia, and there may be several pay grades.
  
In many departments, officers from Lieutenant up wear a white shirt instead of the blue or brown uniform shirt common to lower-ranked police officers. Senior police officers may wear fretting ("[[Scrambled egg (uniform)|scrambled eggs]]") on their visors.
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In many departments, officers from Lieutenant up wear a white shirt instead of the blue or brown uniform shirt common to lower-ranked police officers. Senior police officers may wear fretting ("[[Wikipedia:Scrambled egg (uniform)|scrambled eggs]]") on their visors.
  
 
Advancement from Officer to Captain is generally by appointment after successful completion of a series of examinations, and after the officer has sufficient time in grade. Grades above Captain are generally by appointment of the chief/sheriff. In addition, there must be vacancies for a higher rank.
 
Advancement from Officer to Captain is generally by appointment after successful completion of a series of examinations, and after the officer has sufficient time in grade. Grades above Captain are generally by appointment of the chief/sheriff. In addition, there must be vacancies for a higher rank.
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==Variations==
 
==Variations==
 
=== Federal ===
 
=== Federal ===
* [[United States Border Patrol#Ranks and insignia|United States Border Patrol]]
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* [[Wikipedia:United States Border Patrol#Ranks and insignia|United States Border Patrol]]
  
 
=== States ===
 
=== States ===
* [[Louisiana State Police#Rank structure|Louisiana]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Louisiana State Police#Rank structure|Louisiana]]
* [[Maryland State Police#Rank structure|Maryland]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Maryland State Police#Rank structure|Maryland]]
* [[Pennsylvania State Police#Uniform and rank structure|Pennsylvania]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Pennsylvania State Police#Uniform and rank structure|Pennsylvania]]
* [[South Carolina Highway Patrol#Rank Structure|South Carolina]]
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* [[Wikipedia:South Carolina Highway Patrol#Rank Structure|South Carolina]]
* [[Vermont State Police#Rank and structure of the Vermont State Police|Vermont]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Vermont State Police#Rank and structure of the Vermont State Police|Vermont]]
* [[Virginia State Police#Rank Structure|Virginia]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Virginia State Police#Rank Structure|Virginia]]
  
 
=== Cities ===
 
=== Cities ===
* [[Baltimore Police Department#Rank structure and insignia|Baltimore]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Baltimore Police Department#Rank structure and insignia|Baltimore]]
* [[Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department#Rank Structure|Charlotte]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department#Rank Structure|Charlotte]]
* [[Chicago Police Department#Ranks|Chicago]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Chicago Police Department#Ranks|Chicago]]
* [[Dallas Police Department#Rank structure|Dallas]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Dallas Police Department#Rank structure|Dallas]]
* [[Detroit_Police_Department#Rank_structure_and_insignia|Detroit]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Detroit_Police_Department#Rank_structure_and_insignia|Detroit]]
* [[Fort_Worth_Police_Department_(Texas)#Rank_Structure_and_Insignia|Fort Worth]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Fort_Worth_Police_Department_(Texas)#Rank_Structure_and_Insignia|Fort Worth]]
* [[Houston Police Department#Ranks|Houston]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Houston Police Department#Ranks|Houston]]
* [[Los Angeles Police Department#Rank structure and insignia|Los Angeles]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles Police Department#Rank structure and insignia|Los Angeles]]
* [[Miami Police Department#Ranks and Insignia|Miami]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Miami Police Department#Ranks and Insignia|Miami]]
* [[New Orleans Police Department|New Orleans]]
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* [[Wikipedia:New Orleans Police Department|New Orleans]]
* [[New York Police Department#Ranks of the NYPD|New York]]
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* [[Wikipedia:New York Police Department#Ranks of the NYPD|New York]]
* [[Philadelphia Police Department#Ranks within the department|Philadelphia]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Philadelphia Police Department#Ranks within the department|Philadelphia]]
* [[Pittsburgh Police#Ranks of the Pittsburgh Police|Pittsburgh]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Pittsburgh Police#Ranks of the Pittsburgh Police|Pittsburgh]]
* [[Jacksonville Sheriff's Office#Rank structure of the Sheriff's Office|Jacksonville, Florida]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Jacksonville Sheriff's Office#Rank structure of the Sheriff's Office|Jacksonville, Florida]]
* [[Metropolitan Police Department#Ranks of the MPDC|Washington, DC]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Metropolitan Police Department#Ranks of the MPDC|Washington, DC]]
  
 
=== Counties ===
 
=== Counties ===
* [[Suffolk County, New York Police Department#Rank structure|Suffolk County Police, New York]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Suffolk County, New York Police Department#Rank structure|Suffolk County Police, New York]]
* [[Suffolk County, New York Sheriff's Office#Rank structure|Suffolk County Sheriff, New York]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Suffolk County, New York Sheriff's Office#Rank structure|Suffolk County Sheriff, New York]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist|2}}
 
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Criminal professions]][[Category:Police]]
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[[Category:Criminal professions]][[Category:Police]][[Category:Articles nominated for deletion on Wikipedia (AfD)]]
  
 
[[zh:美国警衔]]
 
[[zh:美国警衔]]

Revision as of 03:54, 12 February 2011

This article contains content from Wikipedia
An article on this subject has been nominated for deletion on Wikipedia:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/
Police ranks of the USA

Current versions of the GNU FDL article on WP may contain information useful to the improvement of this article
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The United States police rank model is generally Wikipedia:paramilitary in structure.

Ranks

Although the large and varied number of federal, state, and local police and sheriff's departments have different ranks, a general model, from highest to lowest rank, would be:

  • Assistant Chief/Assistant Commissioner/Assistant Superintendent/Assistant Sheriff: Only seen in some departments. In New York City, assistant chiefs head borough commands bureaus.
  • Captain: Two gold or silver bars ("Railroad tracks"). Often supervises a Wikipedia:police station but can supervise another division or unit (detectives, patrol, etc.) in smaller departments and only certain sections of a police station in larger departments. In NYC captains are the normal commanders of precincts.
  • Wikipedia:Lieutenant: A single gold or silver bar, who supervises two to three or more sergeants. Lieutenants can supervise an entire watch shift of a police station or detective squad (Wikipedia:Narcotics, Wikipedia:Homicide, etc.) in larger police departments and entire precincts in smaller police departments.
  • Wikipedia:Sergeant: Three inverted chevrons, a police officer who supervises an entire watch shift in smaller departments and areas of a precinct and individual detective squads in larger departments.
  • Wikipedia:Detective/Inspector/Investigator: An investigatory specialist, usually working in plain clothes. This may be in several classes that correspond to higher supervisory and pay grades. In NYC, technically a designation: detectives do not exactly outrank police officers albeit they are in charge of cases and are often senior in years of service and so have a certain degree of authority beyond police officers in specific situations.
  • Officer/Deputy/Corporal: A regular officer/deputy wears no rank insignia, and there may be several pay grades.

In many departments, officers from Lieutenant up wear a white shirt instead of the blue or brown uniform shirt common to lower-ranked police officers. Senior police officers may wear fretting ("scrambled eggs") on their visors.

Advancement from Officer to Captain is generally by appointment after successful completion of a series of examinations, and after the officer has sufficient time in grade. Grades above Captain are generally by appointment of the chief/sheriff. In addition, there must be vacancies for a higher rank.

Variations

Federal

States

Cities

Counties

References