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Police ranks of the USA

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Police ranks of the United States

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The United States police rank model is generally Wikipedia:paramilitary in structure.

Ranks[edit]

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[edit]

Federal[edit]

States[edit]

Cities[edit]

Counties[edit]

References[edit]