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, like the LAPD, 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 prevent crimes 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 a 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 investigators to ensure that personnel and equipment are maintained to department standards.
Since they act as a liaison between upper management and subordinates, the role of a police sergeant requires strong interpersonal leadership ability.
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 officers 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 highest rank achieved 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 the 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 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.
However, the police commissioner isn’t a uniformed officer.
what about the Sheriff’s Department?
The sheriff’s department is a county police force. In some rural areas, the county sheriff’s department is the only law enforcement agency and has a full roster of duties, including undertaking investigations and making arrests. In metropolitan areas, the sheriff’s department’s sole mandate might be the transportation of prisoners, providing courthouse security, and serving summonses. The sheriff is the top-ranking officer in the department and is almost always an elected official. The assistant sheriff or under-sheriff is the next in line of police ranks in the department, followed by the division chief, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, corporal, and deputy. A deputy sheriff is essentially the same rank as a police officer.