Police officer rankings vary by country and are often based on military ranks. In the US, there are three levels: unrated, bars, and stars. Advancement requires experience and training, and motivational tools encourage upward movement. Bars indicate lieutenant or captain positions, while stars indicate higher ranks such as inspector or commissioner.
The different police officer rankings available are based on the historical background of each country. Most classification systems are based on military ranks, which have a longer historical tradition to draw on. Many police practices are based on military traditions.
In the US, there are three ratings within the overall hierarchy: unrated, bars, and stars. There are variations among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, but they all adhere to this basic structure. In keeping with a typical military organization, all new employees start out in unclassified positions. No training or outside work experience allows a new member to start in the organization in a classified position.
The unclassified level includes all standard police officers, detectives or inspectors and shift supervisors. There are different pay grades and experience levels, but these positions are all rankless. When looking at the different officer rankings, it’s important to remember that the majority of employees will be in the lower ranks. As a result, there are motivational tools built into the structure to encourage people to move up the ranks in the organization.
To obtain a position as a detective, additional courses and exams are required. These courses cannot be completed outside of law enforcement. Additionally, a specific number of years of work experience is required before a candidate is eligible to take the courses. As in the military, experience is critical to the advancement structure.
The level of bars has two types of positions: lieutenant and captain. Bars are sewn to the upper left shoulder of the regular uniform and dress. A lieutenant has a silver or gold bar and is responsible for supervising sergeants, an entire squad, shift, or even districts.
A captain has two bars of gold or silver on his uniform. He or she is in charge of a police station, but this can be expanded to include several specialized departments. In smaller law enforcement agencies, captains may be in charge of an entire division.
At star level, the higher the number, the higher the rank. One star is used for an inspector or commander, who is one level above captain. This person is responsible for multiple divisions. Two stars are used for assistant chief constable or assistant commissioner. This is equivalent to a major general in the US Army.
A three-star ranking is for Deputy Chief Constable or Deputy Commissioner, which is equivalent to a lieutenant general. Officers of this rank have broader responsibilities for the entire organization. Of all the different police officer ratings, four stars is the highest position and is often called the police commissioner or sheriff.
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