Characters are hard to create. In fact, last time we all checked, books are hard to create.
What's a writer to do? Don't fear, my friend. Maplefoot has got you covered.
Welcome to the second edition of 'Designing Your Character & Other Handy Thi...
The police ranks of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. vary between individual departments, but most are based on the order of military ranks.
In order to get promoted, officers are required to serve a certain amount of time at each level of the department. They must also take written exams and interview with superior officers before advancing to the next police rank.
Here's a general outline of the police ranks commonly used by metropolitan departments, ranked from lowest to highest:
Police officer
A police officer is the most common kind of sworn officer in any given metropolitan department. They can perform a variety of roles including patrolling the streets, responding to the scene of a crime or accident, and participating in community awareness efforts.
There are several different police pay grades that LEOs may qualify for after reaching certain milestones. Newer officers usually receive a pay bump after they successfully complete their probationary period, which may last between one to four years.
A new police officer beginning their probationary period will start at the lowest police rank. However, they have the opportunity specialize in areas like field training, or media coordinators.
After racking up some experience, police officers may also join more specialized units such as a SWAT team, a canine unit or bomb squad.
Officers may be promoted to corporal status, which allows may include duties like detective work, field training and Watch Commander.
Police detective
Police detectives are usually assigned to a specialized division — such as narcotics, gang activity, or robbery — and investigate a specific kind of crime.
In some departments, , detectives are the only sworn-in officers that wear business attire or street clothes instead of their issued uniform. They can use their disguised appearance to blend into crowds and before they happen.
As a detective, it's possible to assume a supervisory role. A higher ranking detective might review reports prepared by subordinates, and assume a leadership role in high-profile homicides or robberies.
Police corporal
In addition to supervisory responsibilities, corporals still patrol and investigate. They may take over the duties of police sergeant in case of absence.
Police sergeant
Sergeants supervise and train their subordinates. They may also coordinate activity at crime scenes, making sure department policies and procedures are applied to law enforcement activities.
Sergeants frequently assume roles like professional standards investigator to ensure that personnel and equipment is maintained to department standards.
Since they act as a liaison between upper management and subordinates, the role of police sergeant requires strong interpersonal .
Police lieutenant
Police lieutenant roles are usually administrative in nature. They attend meetings and serve on various committees related to their unit of command.
Lieutenants make sure the department is running smoothly, so they may be responsible for tasks like preparing budgets, maintaining supplies, and ensuring a harassment and discrimination-free workplace.
Police lieutenants act as assistants to police captains, and may even take their place as commanding officer in case of absence.
Police captain
Police captains manage specific divisions within the department, like vice or homicide. They direct work and evaluate their team's performance through written reports.
Captains are also responsible for making sure officers and detectives are complying with department policies and standards. They may also hire civilian personnel to work within their division.
In some metropolitan departments, the rank of police captain is the by Civil Service promotion. Ranks above captain may be appointed by the chief of police.
Above police captain, some departments may have police majors and police colonels. Departments may also use the term police inspector to describe certain high-ranking officials above captain.
Deputy chief
Next is the deputy chief, who may serve as the bureau commander for activities such as patrol, investigations, or support.
In larger metropolitan areas such as New York City, the deputy chief may be assisted by assistant chiefs.
Assistant chief
This position doesn't exist everywhere, but large metropolitan departments may have multiple assistant chiefs
Chief of police
The chief of police is the department's highest-ranking officer.
The chief of police manages the police department, and is responsible for maintaining the efficient operations within the department.
Police commissioner
In some larger metropolitan areas, a police commissioner is appointed by the city's mayor to oversee multiple departments. The equivalent of this position may also be called a police superintendent.
(Found on https://www.policeone.com/police-administration/articles/223207006-What-are-the-ranks-of-police-officers/)
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
(Found on http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/172493/rank_insignia_poster.pdf)
