Police Officer Ranks Every Aspirant Should Know

Police Officer Ranks Every Aspirant Should Know

What Are The Ranks of Police Officers?

Police officer ranks in the US can be huge, providing plenty of opportunities for promotion and progression. The actual titles vary, as certain divisions in states and cities skip certain positions because of their measurements and specifications. Nonetheless, understanding the process provides you with a better idea of how law enforcement improvement is.

When officers climb across the ranks, their responsibilities can differ, but their key roles are the same — working for healthier neighborhoods. Officers who excel in this tend to be the ones leading their divisions. But power quality isn’t always the way that people expect it. Below is a list of the rank of police officers in order:

1. Police Technician

An entry-level position which involves assisting appointed officers in follow-up investigations of crimes issued, administer parking laws and issue citations, to handle traffic incidents and crime scenarios. Police technicians also process incident reports, provide general public assistance, and preserve organized and up-to-date databases.

1. Police Officer

The police officer is the most well-known rank, which is divided into three paygrade ranks: Police Officer I, II, and III. Police Officer I is a probationary police who immediately progresses to Police Officer II upon successfully completing his/her probationary period. Police officers may be assigned to a patrol car, bicycle, motorcycle, or a specialized unit such as SWAT. 

1. Police Detective

Police Detectives are assigned to specific functions of criminal investigations. It is divided into three Detective ranks: Detective I, II, and III. Detective II and III are supervisory positions, which are accountable for training and supervising the activities of Detectives I and Police Officers.

1. Police Corporal

Police officers generally act as supervisors and superiors of small departments, but this rank title may also apply to non-supervisory officers of a specialized group. This rank is usually first in the supervisory position, putting officers in some degree of authority over other personnel.

1. Police Sergeant

The responsibilities of a police sergeant depend on the size of their employing company. Many organizations skip these ranks and delegate tasks to other positions. It is assumed that the Sergeant can define and apply regulations to a wide variety of situations, supervise and train officers, assess disciplinary issues, help create new policies and act as a representative between top management and subordinates. Sergeant duties are often a step up from the Corporal’s overall management roles, as they also discuss staff concerns and seek ways to improve their units.

1. Police Lieutenant

The position of Police Lieutenant is classified as Officer-in-Charge of different law enforcement and administrative functions and is split into two ranks: Lieutenant I and Lieutenant II. Lieutenants I are typically classified as watch commanders or operational lieutenants at the level of the geographic area. Lieutenant II may aid the detective units in commanding officers or serve as the Officers-in-Charge Division for different specialized agencies across the Department. Lieutenants assigned to the Local Patrol and Detective Divisions shall be liable for the supervision of patrol sergeants, police officers, and investigators conducting day-to-day operations, regular crime prevention, and investigative roles. Lieutenants are the Captain’s assistant serving as Commanding Officer in the absence of the Captain.

1. Police Captain

The Police Captain shall be appointed to geographic areas, detective units, and specialized divisions within the Police Department. This rank is divided into three paygrade advances: Captains I, II, and III. Each level of the Police Captain takes a more complicated and challenging degree of responsibility within his or her role. As Commander of the Patrol or Detective Division, the Captain shall be liable for the following tasks:

• inspecting and overseeing the functions of patrol officers and detectives
• managing the administrative and support functions of non-sworn personnel
• inspecting personnel, facilities, and tactile services for safety and training needs
• Keeping contact with numerous local, state, civic organizations, and private citizens

1. Police Commander

Police Commanders act Commanding Officers in Community Affairs, Uniformed Services, Detective Services, Juvenile Services, Criminal Intelligence, Personnel, Training, Internal Affairs, Administrative, and Transit Units. Each division is broken down into more specific units such as Organized Crime and Vice, Narcotics, Burglary/Auto Theft, Anti-Terrorist, Crime Suppression, Air Support, Labor Relations, and Robbery/Homicide.

1. Deputy Police Chief

Deputy Police Chief is the second-highest-ranking officer in the police department and is often found in large municipal law enforcement agencies. They are responsible for the effective administration of a bureau or division of police and technical staff personnel. They do everything a police captain might do, but also stand prepared to assume control of the divisions as acting police chief, should the need arise.

The Deputy Chief shall be designated as the Commander in Chief of major organizational units such as the Regional Operations Bureau, the Detective Bureau, the Human Resources Bureau, the Internal Affairs Group or the Chief of Staff. In addition, the Deputy Chief will, in his absence, assume the duties of the Chief of Police and perform related functions in that position.

1. Chief of Police

Chief of Police (COP) is the highest-ranking police officer and acts as the general manager. The COP is liable for the planning, effective management, and operation of the Police Department under the jurisdiction of the Board of Police Commissioners. In this capacity, the COP shall direct, plan and coordinate the implementation of the criminal units of the City Charter, the city ordinances, and the laws of the state and of the nation with the purpose of protecting people and property and the preservation of the harmony of the community.

Police Officer Ranks and Salary

Rank	Minimum Annual Salary	Maximum Annual Salary
Police Chief	$78,547	$99,698
Deputy Chief	68,797	87,564
Police Captain	65,408	81,466
Police Lieutenant	59,940	72,454
Police Sergeant	53,734	63,564
Police Corporal	44,160	55,183

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a rank and file in the police?

Generally, all policemen below the corporal are considered to be rank and file. Sometimes those below the lieutenant are assumed to be rank and file since master officers, corporals, and sergeants are hourly workers and members of the Police Officers ‘ Association (POA), while lieutenants and above are salaried employees and not members of the POA.

What’s the rank of a police with one star?

In India, a single-star police officer is called the ASI or the Assistant Sub-Inspector. This rank comes above the Chief Constable and below the Police Sub-Inspector.

Do FBI agents outrank local police?

It is not a matter of rank since local police and the FBI are different organizations. An FBI agent can not command a police officer to perform tasks, and a police officer could not direct an FBI agent.

Investigations include violations of municipal, state, and federal laws. The FBI and other federal agencies are in charge of federal cases. State and local crimes are dealt with by the police. Both organizations may be supporting each other, but this is usually done on a mutual, collaborative basis.