what are the different ranks in police work?

Question

I write a whole bunch of stories and i'm writing about this man who does special work undercover. What would he be called? And what are the other rankings from highest to smallest? Thanks.

Answer 1

In most departments in the USA it is as follows:
Lowest to highest rank - this is the NYPD structure

Patrolman or Police Officer
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Captain
Inspector
Chief-Watch Commander (1 star)
Deputy Chief of Command (1 star)
Chief - Burough Commander - outside of NYC this rank may be called District or Division Commander, etc (2-star)
Chief of Patrol (3 star)
Chief of Department (4 star)
Commissioner - Political appointee, not an official rank. But he is the big boss.

There is also often a chief of detectives, a chief of emergency services and a chief of communications as there is in NYPD.

NYPD has a chief of transit and housing commands These ranks are equal to borough commander. Each also has a deputy that is also equal to watch commander.

Answer 2

It all depends on how the department is structured.
Some departments have ranks starting with:
Recruit Officer-trainee in academy and probationary period.
Police Officer-regular officer, not a supervisor.
Master Officer (or Corporal)-first line supervisor
Detective-where I worked this was equivalent to Master Officer and was actually just a Master Officer assigned to Investigations.
Sergeant-the Watch Commander at some smaller departments.
Lieutenant- Watch Commander of bigger departments but not huge ones like our NYPD friends.
Captain-Big cheese, in charge of a division usually or a watch commander on big departments.
Major- Usually an administrative or planning type position, not usually involved directly in day to day operations unless somebody really screws things up!
Deputy Chief or Colonel- Way higher up the command chain, these people figure out trends for the department like switching the way beats are organized, big purchases (after the consult with officers who actually have a clue as to what's going on out there).
Chief- Usually the highest ranking officer of a department. Usually absolutely clueless about day to day operations, but quick to jump on anything that is remotely controversial (usually before all the facts have been gathered).
Your hero might be called Narcotics Detective, Special Investigator, Detective or just plain old Special Agent like the FBI and other Federal places call their guys and gals.
Don't mind my cynicism, it came when I got my fourth service stripe (which means you've been on the department 20 years or more).

Answer 3

UK: (which might become useful): Constable: Sergeant: Inspector: Chief Inspector: Superintendent: Chief Superintendent: Commander: Deputy Assistant Commissioner: Assistant Commissioner: Commissioner.
(in the majority of forces outside London, the chief officer is known as the Chief Constable.
In the CID - Criminal Investigation Department: you merely add Detective before all ranks to Chief Superintendent..........

Answer 4

Each department sets up its own rank structure, but generalized, you would have a Chief at the top who may be called Colonel, then several Captains, one per shift per precinct, or one per department in a large force. Lietuenant would come under that. Sergeants come next and are usually like shift supervisors, or patrol area supervisors, then your regular officers.

Answer 5

Depends on the size of the police work Ranks .

Answer 6

Well, it depends on the size of the department. Usually if it's a large department, lowest starts at corporal and goes all the way up to major. If it's a small department, usually just officer is the title.

Answer 7

well the different ranks are;commissoner ; acting commissoner superintendent,chief inspector; inspector,chief,seagent,copral

Answer 8

Piglet, pig, bacon, pork tenderloin.