Police ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships in police organizations. The rank system defines authority and responsibility in a police organization, and affects the culture within the police force. Police ranks, dependent on country, are similar to military ranks in function and design due to policing in many countries developing from military organizations and operations, such as in western Europe, former Soviet countries, and English-speaking countries. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms.
Rank is not only used to designate leadership, but to establish pay-grade as well. As rank increases, pay-grade follows, but so does the amount of responsibility.
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Argentine Federal Police
Officers
Others
Buenos Aires Provincial Police
Armenia
Officers
Enlisted
Australia
Example
Austria
Commissioners
Leading officers
Supervising officers and police officers
Azerbaijan
Officers
Enlisted
Bangladesh
Superior officers
Subordinate officers
Belarus
Officers
Other
Belgium
Bermuda
Bolivia
Officers
Others
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Republika Srpska
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Ranks of the Botswana Police Service:
Commissioner of police
Deputy commissioner of police
Senior assistant commissioner
Assistant commissioner
Senior superintendent
Superintendent
Assistant superintendent
Inspector
Sub-inspector
Sergeant
Constable
Special constable
Brazil
Brazil has several different police forces, each with its own ranks. At a federal level, there are the Federal Police (Portuguese: Polícia Federal, the equivalent to the FBI), the Federal Highway Police (Polícia Rodoviária Federal) and the Federal Railroad Police (Portuguese: Polícia Ferroviária Federal). At a state level, there are the military police (polícia militar, a gendarmerie type force unlike the military police of many other countries, the Brazilian equivalent of which is the army police) and the civil police (polícia civil). At city level, there is the Municipal Guards (Guarda Municipal).
Civil police
The Brazilian Civil Police rank follows, from higher to lower, as:
The following details the ranks of the military police, which are also used by the National Public Security Force.
The ranks are valid for the state military police agencies (such as the Military Police of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro) and are listed, respectively, from higher to lower ranks:
Officers
Others
Brunei
Gazetted officers
Non gazetted officers
Bulgaria
Officers
Others
Canada
While some smaller or area specific police forces (ports, docks, tunnels etc.) may use variations on, or fewer of, these ranks, most territorial police forces and special police forces have a standard set of operational ranks based on either of the two systems shown here:
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Officers
Others
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
Sûreté du Québec
Chad
Officers
Enlisted
Chile
These are the ranks used by Chilean police services.
Investigations Police of Chile (PDI)
Officers
Director general
Prefecto general
Prefecto inspector
Prefecto
Subprefecto
Comisario
Subcomisario
Inspector
Subinspector
Detective
Aspirante
Since 2017 this agency has rank insignia.
Carabineros de Chile
Officers
Non-commissioned officers and enlisted
China
People's Police
Chinese police officers use rank insignia on both side of shoulders on the duty uniform. Senior officers ranking at commissioner general and commissioner levels wear these on the white collar uniforms, and for supervisor level and below, officers wear them on the sky blue collar uniforms.
Officers
Others
People's Armed Police
The People's Armed Police, as part of the People's Liberation Army, uses the same ranks and uniform as the PLA itself, while the China Maritime Safety Administration uses a different system.
Officers
Non-commissioned officers and men
Units of the China Coast Guard wear identical insignia as a part of the PAP.
Colombia
Officers
Non-commissioned officers and enlisted
Croatia
Regular police ranks
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Officers
Others
Denmark
Estonia
Officers
Others
Egypt
Officers
Others
Ethiopia
The rank structure of the Ethiopian Federal Police is as follows:
Commissioner general
Deputy commissioner general
Commissioner
Deputy commissioner
Assistant commissioner
Commander
Deputy commander
Chief inspector
Inspector
Deputy inspector
Assistant inspector
Chief sergeant
Sergeant
Deputy sergeant
Assistant sergeant
Constable
Fiji
Finland
France
Police Nationale
Gendarmerie
Officers
Non-commissioned offices and volunteer assistant gendarmes
Germany
Higher Police Service
Elevated Police Service
Middle Police Service
Police support employees
Greece
Officers
NCO and enlisted
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Gazetted
Commissioner of police (CP) (Traditional Chinese: 警務處處長): crest over pip over wreathed and crossed batons
Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) (Traditional Chinese: 警務處副處長): crest over wreathed and crossed batons
Senior assistant commissioner of police (SACP) (Traditional Chinese: 警務處高級助理處長): pip over wreathed and crossed batons
Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) (Traditional Chinese: 警務處助理處長): wreathed and crossed batons
Chief superintendent of police (CSP) (Traditional Chinese: 總警司): crest over two pips
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) (Traditional Chinese: 高級警司): crest over pip
Superintendent of police (SP) (Traditional Chinese: 警司): crest
Inspectorate
Chief inspector of police (CIP) (Traditional Chinese: 總督察): three pips
Senior inspector of police (SIP) (Traditional Chinese: 高級督察): two pips over bar
Inspector of police (IP) (Traditional Chinese: 督察): two pips
Probationary inspector of police (PI) (Traditional Chinese: 見習督察): pip
Junior police officers (JPOs)
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs)
Station sergeant (SSGT) (Traditional Chinese: 警署警長): wreathed crest
Sergeant (SGT) (Traditional Chinese: 警長): three downward-pointing chevrons
Police constable (PC) (Traditional Chinese: 警員): slide with ID number
Hungary
Officers
Others
Iceland
Source:
India
State/union territory police forces
The Indian police hierarchy is structured into three distinct categories: the Indian Police Service (IPS), State Police Service (SPS), and State Police Subordinate Service. Both the IPS and SPS are classified under the gazetted officer category, while the State Police Subordinate service falls under the non-gazetted category. Service forces respectively.
Non-gazetted officers
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)
Central Armed Police Forces include the BSF, ITBP, SSB, CRPF, CISF, NSG, and AR. They function under the Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India.
Officers
Enlisted ranks
Indonesia
Officers
Others
Iran
Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Student officer ranks
Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Iraq
The Iraqi Police is made up of three branches, under the command of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, these being the Iraqi Police Service which tasked with general patrol of Iraq's cities, the Federal Police (earlier was called National Police) which are a paramilitary organisation which deals with incidents that are beyond the control of the Iraqi Police, but are not so serious the Iraqi Army are involved, and the supporting force that is made up of the Department of Border Enforcement.
Iraqi Police officers ranks are the same that of Iraqi army ordered lowest to highest with symbol on epaulette:
Officers
Enlisted
Republic of Ireland
Israel
Officers
Others
Italy
Polizia di Stato
Carabinieri
Officers
Others
Japan
Kenya
South Korea
Ranks:
Police officer (순경, 巡警)
Newly commissioned officers are appointed as policeman assistant (순경시보, 巡警試補) for a one-year probationary period. The uniform and insignia of an assistant are identical to those of a policeman.
Auxiliary policeman (의경, 義警)
Sergeant constable (수경, 首警)
Corporal constable (상경, 上警)
Private constable first class (일경, 一警)
Private constable (이경, 二警)
Laos
Officers
Enlisted
Latvia
The rank system of the Latvian State Police is as follows:
Lesotho
Lithuania
Luxembourg
The Grand Ducal Police of Luxembourg has the following ranks (from top to bottom):
Macau
The Public Security Police Force of Macau (CPSP) includes the following categories, ranks and respective main functions :
Command and Management (Cargos de Comando e Direcção)
Superintendent general (superintendente-geral): commander of the CPSP, represent CPSP in public events
Superintendent (superintendente): deputy commander of the CPSP
Officials (Oficiais)
Intendent (intendente): commanding officer of level I units
Sub-Intendent (subintendente): commanding officer of level II units
Commissioner (comissário): commanding officer of level III units
Sub-commissioner (subcomissário): commanding officer of level IV units
Chief (chefe): commanding officer of level V units
Agents (Agentes)
Sub-chief (subchefe): coordinator of complex tasks
Principal constable (guarda principal): coordinator of simple tasks
Constable first class (guarda de primeira): executor of operational, technical or administrative tasks
Constable (guarda): executor of operational, technical or administrative tasks
North Macedonia
Malaysia
Gazetted officers
Non-gazetted officers
Maldives
Malta
Mexico
According to the General Law for the National System for Public Security, the federal, state and municipal police forces are mandated to have the same hierarchical organization. In addition, the national guard uses its own rank system.
National guard
The national guard was formed by absorbing units and officers from the federal police, military police, and naval police.
Commissioned officers
Basic scale ladder
Yucatán State Police
Montenegro
Officers
Other
Myanmar
Commissioned officers
Enlisted ranks
Namibia
Netherlands
National police corps
Royal Marechaussee (military police)
Officers
NCO/enlisted
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Officers
Others
Nigeria
Ranks in the Nigeria Police Force in descending order:
Inspector general
Deputy inspector-general of police
Assistant inspector-general of police
Commissioner of police
Deputy commissioner of police
Assistant commissioner of police
Chief superintendent of police
Superintendent of police
Deputy superintendent of police
Assistant superintendent of police
Assistant superintendent on probation
Cadet assistant superintendent
Chief inspector
Principal inspector
Confirmed inspector
Unconfirmed inspector
Cadet inspector
Sergeant major
Sergeant
Corporal
Constable
Norway
Pakistan
Commissioned and gazetted officer
Junior commissioned and enlisted officer
Note: Khaki Black Shirt and Khaki Pant is used by all Provincial Police Forces in Pakistan with Exemption of Punjab and Federal Police.
Panama
Commissioned officer ranks
Other ranks
Paraguay
Officers
Others
Peru
Philippines
Officers
Others
Poland
Polish State Police
Officers
Other
Portugal
The public security police (PSP) of Portugal includes the following categories, ranks, insignia and respective main functions:
Officers
Chief superintendent: national director of the PSP,
Chief superintendent: deputy national director or inspector general of the PSP
Chief superintendent: commanding officer of a metropolitan or regional command
Superintendent: commanding officer of a district command or second-in-command of a metropolitan or regional command
Intendent: division commander in a metropolitan or regional command or second-in-command of a district command
Sub-intendent: division commander in a district command or second-in-command of a division commanded by an intendent
Commissioner: second-in-command of a division commanded by a sub-intendent
Sub-commissioner: commanding officer of a police squad (police station)
Chiefs
Principal chief: auxiliary of a unit commanding officer
Chief: supervisor of staff and leader of police teams
Agents
Principal agent: a senior principal agent who may perform the same functions as a chief, others perform the same functions as an agent
Agent: functions of police constable
ISCPSI students:
Officer candidate: student of the fifth year of the training course for police officers (CFOP)
Cadet: student of the fourth year of the CFOP
Cadet: student of the third year of the CFOP
Cadet: student of the second year of the CFOP
Cadet: student of the first year of the CFOP
National Republican Guard
Officers
NCOs and constables
Romania
Romanian Police
Police officers' corps (Corpul ofiţerilor de poliţie)
Police agents' corps (Corpul agenţilor de poliţie)
Romanian Gendarmerie
Commissioned officers
Other ranks
Russia
Police of Russia
Officers
Other ranks
Main Directorate for Criminal Investigation of the Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of Interior criminal investigators have jurisdiction over cases concerning harm to health, crimes against property, economic crimes, drug trafficking, banditry and other such cases.
Officers
Enlisted
Investigative Committee of Russia
The Investigative Committee of Russia has jurisdiction over cases concerning murder, rape, kidnapping, encroachment on the life of a law enforcement officer and other such cases.
Federal Security Service
The Federal Security Service has jurisdiction over cases of treason, espionage, terrorism, hostage-taking and other crimes against national security.
Officers
Enlisted
Rwanda
Ranks of the Rwanda National Police:
Corporal
Sergeant
Senior sergeant
Chief sergeant
Assistant inspector of police
Inspector of police
Chief inspector of police
Superintendent of police
Senior superintendent of police
Chief superintendent of police
Assistant commissioner of police
Commissioner of police
Deputy commissioner general of police
Commissioner general of police
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Officers
Enlisted
Senegal
Officers
Enlisted
Serbia
Police general (General policije)
Police colonel (Pukovnik policije)
Police lieutenant colonel (Potpukovnik policije)
Police major (Major policije)
Police captain (Kapetan)
Police lieutenant (Poručnik)
Police second lieutenant (Potporučnik)
Officer cadet (Pripravnik potporučnik)
Chief warrant officer (Zastavnik 1 klase)
Warrant officer class 1 (Zastavnik)
Warrant officer class 2 (Mladji zastavnik)
Sergeant major (Stariji vodnik 1 klase policije)
Sergeant first class (Stariji vodnik policije)
Staff sergeant (Vodnik 1 klase)
Police sergeant (Vodnik)
Constable 1st class (Mladji policajac 1 klase)
Constable (Mladji policajac)
Constable candidate (Pripravnik mlađi vodnik)
Singapore
Below shown are the rank structure of the Singapore Police Force.
Latest changes made to the ranks of the SPF were made in 2016. Officers with ranks that were made obsolete would continue to carry their ranks until their next promotion.
Senior police officers (commissioned)
Police officers
Slovenia
Somaliland
Officers
Enlisted
South Africa
Officers
Other
Spain
Cuerpo Nacional de Policía
Guardia civil – Civil guard
Sri Lanka
Gazetted officers
Non-gazetted officers
Sweden
Chief and senior officers
Inspectors and sergeants
Constables and cadets
Switzerland
Municipal police corps in the Canton of Zürich
Republic of China (Taiwan)
National Police Agency
Republic of China Military Police
Tanzania
Gazetted officers
Non gazetted officers
Thailand
Commissioned officers
Other
Turkey
Police
Gendarmerie
Ukraine
The ranks used by the National Guard of Ukraine are the same as the ones used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Officers
Junior officers
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
United Kingdom
United States
The United States law enforcement ranking model is generally quasi-military in structure. Each level of law enforcement (federal, state, and local) has its own rank structure and insignia, and these vary considerably from agency to agency. There is no nationally set law enforcement rank and insignia structure but they tend to follow similar patterns. Because of that, this is not an exhaustive list. Some departments, particularly small ones, have very few ranks, while large ones have ranks as extensive as United States military rank structures.
Federal
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contain multiple law enforcement agencies and are the largest federal departments responsible for law enforcement; however, other governmental departments and agencies have law enforcement bodies. Each federal law enforcement agency has a unique rank structure. Many federal law enforcement agencies rank structures resemble military rank structure but have different cogitations regarding responsibilities and duties. In general, all law enforcement groups in United States follow a similar pattern: director/chief, assistant/deputy director/chief, special agent in charge, assistant special agent in charge, supervisory special agent, special agent.
Example
United States Border Patrol
State
State law enforcement agencies often have a pronounced paramilitary rank structure with rank titles such as: colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, staff sergeant, sergeant, corporal, trooper.
Example
Alabama Highway Patrol and Alabama Department of Public Safety
County
County sheriffs are usually elected, chiefs of county police departments are appointed. In a sheriff's department common ranks are undersheriff, assistant sheriff (large departments), senior deputy sheriff, and deputy sheriff, while in a county police department paramilitary titles may be used, which also are to be found in large sheriff's departments.
Example of a sheriff's department
Santa Clara County, California
Example of a county police department
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Municipal/city
Municipal or city police departments can use paramilitary ranks or more distinct police ranks, or a combination of both. Commissioners or chiefs are normally heading the departments, aided by commanders and inspectors or colonels or majors. Captain, lieutenant and sergeant are standard ranks. Below them are corporals, detectives, police officers.