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.

Argentine Federal Police

 * Officers


 * Others

Australia

 * Example

Austria

 * Commissioners


 * Leading officers


 * Supervising officers and police officers

Azerbaijan

 * Officers


 * Enlisted

Bangladesh

 * Superior officers


 * Subordinate officers

Belarus

 * Officers


 * Other

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 (Polícia Federal, the equivalent to the FBI), the Federal Highway Police (Polícia Rodoviária Federal) and the Federal Railroad Police (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:
 * Comissário/Delegado (Commissioner/Delegate)
 * Escrivão (Clerk)
 * Agente/Investigador/Inspetor/Especialista (Agent/Investigator/Inspector/Specialist)
 * Perito criminal (Forensics expert)

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 (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

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

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

Czech Republic

 * Officers


 * Others

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

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

Gazetted

 * Commissioner of police (CP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : crest over pip over wreathed and crossed batons
 * Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : crest over wreathed and crossed batons
 * Senior assistant commissioner of police (SACP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : pip over wreathed and crossed batons
 * Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : wreathed and crossed batons
 * Chief superintendent of police (CSP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : crest over two pips
 * Senior superintendent of police (SSP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : crest over pip
 * Superintendent of police (SP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : crest

Inspectorate

 * Chief inspector of police (CIP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : three pips
 * Senior inspector of police (SIP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : two pips over bar
 * Inspector of police (IP) (Traditional Chinese: ) : two pips
 * Probationary inspector of police (PI) (Traditional Chinese: ) : pip

Junior police officers (JPOs)
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs)
 * Station sergeant (SSGT) (Traditional Chinese: ) : wreathed crest
 * Sergeant (SGT) (Traditional Chinese: ) : three downward-pointing chevrons

Rank and file
 * Senior constable (SPC) (Traditional Chinese: ) : downward-pointing chevron
 * Police constable (PC) (Traditional Chinese: ) : slide with ID number

Hungary

 * Officers


 * Others

Iceland
Source:

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.



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

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 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:

Israel

 * Officers


 * Others

Carabinieri
Officers

Others

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:

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

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

Netherlands

 * National police corps

Royal Marechaussee (military police)

Officers

NCO/enlisted

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

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

Polish State Police

 * Officers


 * Other

Portugal
The public security police (PSP) of Portugal includes the following categories, ranks, insignia and respective main functions:
 * Officers
 * Distintivo Director Nacional PSP.png Chief superintendent: national director of the PSP,
 * Distintivo Director Nacional Adujunto Inspector Nacional PSP.png Chief superintendent: deputy national director or inspector general of the PSP
 * Distintivo Superintendente-Chefe PSP.png Chief superintendent: commanding officer of a metropolitan or regional command
 * Distintivo Superintendente PSP.png Superintendent: commanding officer of a district command or second-in-command of a metropolitan or regional command
 * Distintivo Intendente PSP.png Intendent: division commander in a metropolitan or regional command or second-in-command of a district command
 * Distintivo Subintendente PSP.png Sub-intendent: division commander in a district command or second-in-command of a division commanded by an intendent
 * Distintivo Comissário PSP.png Commissioner: second-in-command of a division commanded by a sub-intendent
 * Distintivo Subcomissário PSP.png Sub-commissioner: commanding officer of a police squad (police station)
 * Chiefs
 * Distintivo Chefe Principal PSP.png Principal chief: auxiliary of a unit commanding officer
 * Distintivo Chefe PSP.png Chief: supervisor of staff and leader of police teams
 * Agents
 * Distintivo Agente Principal PSP.png Principal agent: a senior principal agent who may perform the same functions as a chief, others perform the same functions as an agent
 * Distintivo Agente PSP.png Agent: functions of police constable
 * ISCPSI students:
 * Distintivo Aspirante PSP.png Officer candidate: student of the fifth year of the training course for police officers (CFOP)
 * Distintivo Cadete 4ºano PSP.png Cadet: student of the fourth year of the CFOP
 * Distintivo Cadete 3ºano PSP.png Cadet: student of the third year of the CFOP
 * Distintivo Cadete 2ºano PSP.png Cadet: student of the second year of the CFOP
 * Distintivo Cadete 1ºano PSP.png Cadet: student of the first year of the CFOP

National Republican Guard

 * Officers


 * NCOs and constables

Romanian Police

 * Police officers' corps (Corpul ofiţerilor de poliţie)


 * Police agents' corps (Corpul agenţilor de poliţie)

Romanian Gendarmerie

 * Commissioned officers


 * Other ranks

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 (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

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 (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.


 * Example of a city police department
 * Aurora Police Department, Colorado

Vanuatu

 * Commissioned officers


 * Non-commissioned personnel

Vatican City State

 * Officers


 * Others

Vietnam

 * Students and officers


 * NCOs and enlisted

Zimbabwe

 * Commissioned officers


 * Non-commissioned officers