List of police ranks
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.
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Argentine Federal Police
;Officers;Others
Australia
;ExampleAustria
;Commissioners;Leading officers
;Supervising officers and police officers
Azerbaijan
;Officers;Enlisted
Bangladesh
;Superior officers;Subordinate officers
Bolivia
;Officers;Others
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, the Federal Highway Police, the Federal Railroad Police and the Federal Penal Police. At a state level, there are the Military Police, the Civil Police and the State Penal Police. At city level, there is the Municipal Guards.Civil police
The Brazilian Civil Police rank follows, from higher to lower, as:- Comissário/Delegado
- Escrivão
- Agente/Investigador/Inspetor/Especialista
- Perito criminal
Military police
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 and are listed, respectively, from higher to lower ranks:
;Commanders
;Officers
;Student Officers
;Others
;Student NCOs
Brunei
;Gazetted officers;Non gazetted officers
Bulgaria
;Officers;Others
Canada
While some smaller or area specific police forces 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
Chad
;Officers;Enlisted
Chile
These are the ranks used by Chilean police services.Investigations Police of Chile
officers
- Director general
- Prefecto general
- Prefecto inspector
- Prefecto
- Subprefecto
- Comisario
- Subcomisario
- Inspector
- Subinspector
- Detective
- Aspirante
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
In China, ranks can be separate from position, and according to Article 8 of the "", the following positions require an officer with the following ranks:
- The person responsible for a Ministry level agency/unit of the People's Police has to be ranked Commissioner General
- The person responsible for a deputy ministry level agency/unit of the People's Police has to be ranked Deputy Commissioner General
- The person responsible for a Department level agency/unit of the People's police can be either ranked Commissioner First Class or Commissioner Second Class
- The person responsible for a deputy department level agency/unit of the People's Police can either be a Commissioner Second Class or Commissioner Third Class
- The person responsible for a division level agency/unit of the People's Police can be ranked between commissioner third class to supervisor second class
- The person responsible for a deputy division level agency/unit can be ranked between Supervisor first class to supervisor third class
- The person responsible for an office level agency/unit can be ranked between Supervisor 1st class to superintendent 1st class
- The person responsible for a deputy office level agency/unit can be ranked between Supervisor 2nd class to Superintendent 2nd class
- Police sergeants can be ranked between Supervisor 3rd class to Superintendent 3rd class
- Police officers can be ranked between Superintendent 1st class to Constable 2nd class
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.;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 ranksEgypt
;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
France
;Officers;Non-commissioned offices and volunteer assistant gendarmes
Germany
;Higher Police ServiceGreece
;Officers;NCO and enlisted
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, State Police Service, 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.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
;Other ranks
Indonesia
;Officers;Others
Iran
Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.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 Ministry of Interior, these being the Iraqi Police Service which tasked with general patrol of Iraq's cities, the Federal Police which is a gendarmerie service which deals with incidents that are beyond the control of the Iraqi Police Service, but are not so serious the Iraqi Army are involved, and the supporting force that is made up of the Department of Border Enforcement.The Iraqi Police commissioned officers ranks are the same that of the Iraqi Armed Forces, ordered lowest to highest with symbol on epaulette however the difference is that the Police ranks have silver insignia whereas the Armed Forces ranks have golden insignia.
Furthermore, there is a category of ranks in between the commissioned ranks and other ranks that is simply translated as "warrant officer" rank category.
Insignia
;Officers;Warrant officers
;Other ranks
Israel
;Officers;Others
Italy
Carabinieri
Officers'''Others'''
Guardia di Finanza
Officers'''Non-commissioned officers'''
South Korea
Ranks:- Police officer
- * Newly commissioned officers are appointed as policeman assistant for a one-year probationary period. The uniform and insignia of an assistant are identical to those of a policeman.
- Auxiliary policeman
- * Sergeant constable
- * Corporal constable
- * Private constable first class
- * Private constable
Laos
;Officers;Enlisted
Latvia
The rank system of the Latvian State Police is as follows:Luxembourg
The Grand Ducal Police of Luxembourg has the following ranks :Macau
The Public Security Police Force of Macau includes the following categories, ranks and respective main functions:Command and Management Officials- : Intendent : commanding officer of level I units
- : Sub-Intendent : commanding officer of level II units
- : Commissioner : commanding officer of level III units
- : Sub-commissioner : commanding officer of level IV units
- : Chief : commanding officer of level V units Agents
- : Sub-chief : coordinator of complex tasks
- : Principal constable : coordinator of simple tasks
- : Constable first class : executor of operational, technical or administrative tasks
- : Constable : executor of operational, technical or administrative tasks
Malaysia
;Gazetted officers;Non-gazetted officers
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
Montenegro
;Officers;Other
Myanmar
;Commissioned officers;Enlisted ranks
Nepal
The Nepal Police has fourteen ranks. Three new ranks, Senior Sub Inspector, Senior Head Constable, and Assistant Head Constable, were recently added to the Nepal Police.Netherlands
| Rank / rank insignia | First Chief Commissioner | Chief Commissioner | Commissioner | Chief Inspector | Inspector | Sergeant |
| Epaulette | 120px | 120px | 120px | 120px | 120px | 120px |
| Slide-on | 100px | 100px | 100px | 100px | 100px | 100px |
| Rank / rank insignia | Senior Constable | Constable | Police Patrol Officer | Police Trainee | Employee with limited law enforcement authority | Employee with limited law enforcement authority |
| Epaulette | 120px | 120px | 120px | 120px | ||
| Slide-on | 100px | 100px | 100px | 100px | 100px | 100px |
Royal Marechaussee
Officers
'''NCO/enlisted'''
Nicaragua
;Officers;Others
Nigeria
The ranks within the Nigeria Police Force are established by law, including the Police Act of 2020. The structure flows from the Inspector-General of Police as the highest rank to the Constable as the lowest.The full hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force ranks, from highest to lowest, is as follows:
Commissioned Officers Inspector-General of Police : The head of the entire force, appointed by the President.Deputy Inspector-General of Police : The second-in-command of the Force.Assistant Inspector-General of Police .Commissioner of Police : In charge of police contingents in a state.Deputy Commissioner of Police .Assistant Commissioner of Police .Chief Superintendent of Police .Superintendent of Police .Deputy Superintendent of Police .Assistant Superintendent of Police : This rank includes ASP I and ASP II.Inspector of Police: Includes Inspector I and Inspector II.
Non-Commissioned Officers Sergeant Major.Sergeant.Corporal.Constable: The entry-level rank. This includes Police Constable I and II.Police Recruit: The lowest entry point before full constable rank.
This rank structure is provided for in the Police Act and associated regulations. Promotions through these ranks are managed by the Police Service Commission on the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police Ranks in the Nigeria Police Force in descending order:
Pakistan
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
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 Chiefs
- * Principal chief: auxiliary of a unit commanding officer
- * Chief: supervisor of staff and leader of police teamsAgents
- * 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 constableISCPSI students:
- * Officer candidate: student of the fifth year of the training course for police officers
- * 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;Police agents' corps
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
Saudi Arabia
;Officers;Enlisted
Senegal
;Officers;Enlisted
Serbia
- Police general
- Police colonel
- Police lieutenant colonel
- Police major
- Police captain
- Police lieutenant
- Police second lieutenant
- Officer cadet
- Chief warrant officer
- Warrant officer class 1
- Warrant officer class 2
- Sergeant major
- Sergeant first class
- Staff sergeant
- Police sergeant
- Constable 1st class
- Constable
- Constable candidate
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
;Police officers
Somaliland
;Officers;Enlisted
South Africa
;Officers;Other
Spain
;Cuerpo Nacional de Policía;Guardia civil – Civil guard
Sri Lanka
;Gazetted officers;Non-gazetted officers
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 States
The United States law enforcement ranking model is generally quasi-military in structure. Each level of law enforcement 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 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.Examples of federal police ranks in the United States include:
| Rank | Director | Deputy Director | Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to the Director | Deputy Chief of Staff | Associate Deputy Director | Executive Assistant Director | Associate Executive Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Deputy Assistant Director | Special Agent-in-Charge | Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge | Supervisory Special Agent | Senior Special Agent | Special Agent | Agent In Training |
| Rank | Chief of the Border Patrol | Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol | Chief Patrol Agent | Deputy Chief Patrol Agent | Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Patrol agent in charge | Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge Watch commander | Special Operations Supervisor | Supervisory Border Patrol Agent | Border Patrol Agent | Border Patrol Agent |
| Insignia | No insignia |
| Director | Deputy Director | Assistant Director | Deputy Assistant Director | Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge | Deputy Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge | Assistant Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge | Supervisory Federal Air Marshal | Senior Federal Air Marshal | Federal Air Marshal |
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, 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
| Rank | Sheriff | Undersheriff | Assistant Sheriff | Captain | Lieutenant | Sergeant | Deputy Sheriff |
| Insignia | No insignia |
;Example of a county police department
;Anne Arundel County, Maryland
| Rank | Chief of police | Assistant Chief | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Sergeant | Corporal | Police Officer First Class | Police Officer |
| Insignia | No insignia |
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.;Example of a city police department
;Aurora Police Department, Colorado
| Rank | Chief of Police | Deputy Chief | Division Chief | Commander | Captain | Lieutenant | Sergeant | Police Agent | Police Officer Specialist | Police Officer |
| Insignia | No insignia |
Vanuatu
;Commissioned officers;Non-commissioned personnel
Vatican City State
;Officers;Others
Venezuela
;Bolivarian National Guard of VenezuelaVietnam
;Students and officers;NCOs and enlisted
Zimbabwe
;Commissioned officers;Non-commissioned officers