Flare Sci-Fi Forums: I'd really appreciate some help . . .

This is topic I'd really appreciate some help . . . in forum Officers' Lounge at Flare Sci-Fi Forums.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flare.solareclipse.net/ultimatebb.php/topic/10/2093.html

Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :

Hello everyone! This is my first thread here at Flare (hope I've got it in the right area!), after being a member for just under six months.

I have a question for the US citizens - what are the Police ranks?

I currently have Chief, Commander, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant and Officer - are there any others? I've looked on the Internet and cannot find anything but have found plenty about the armed forces from their main websites. Is there a site that would answer this question and also tell me the responsibilities of each rank (and possibly the salary?).

I'd really appreciate some help guys and gals as I'm doing a comparison between the US and UK police forces (for my novel). I'll probably have some other questions along the way that only US citizens can answer (and/or people who are better acquainted with the Internet than I am ), so consider yourselves warned - I shall be calling upon your skills again in the future.

Regards

akb1979

[ September 26, 2001: Message edited by: akb1979 ]

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

I don't think there's any uniform ranking system, and keep in mind that you've got lots of police organizations: State Troopers, City Police, County Police, and even local town police, in some cases.

Here in Maryland, you've got the State Police, Baltimore Police, County Police for the majority of counties (many of the more rural areas rely on State Police only).

Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :

We seem to have a lot of different law enforcement agencies in Texas. At the state level, there's the Department of Public Safety State Troopers. At the county level we have the Sherriff's Departments. Also at the county level or at a level between that and the city level are the Constable Departments. At the city level we have the city departments (in my case, the Houston Police Department). Then come the sub-municipal departments. In my area, those include the Metro Police (patrolling for the Metropolitan Transit Authority), University of Houston Police Department, Houston Independent School District Police Department, and the Texas Medical Center Police Department. Texas has an odd fascination with cops and guns.

As for the ranks, I can say what I've seen for municipal and county level departments. In the Sherriff's department, you have the County Sherriff, regional sherriffs (I think), deputy sherriffs, and patrol officers (I think). In the Constable's department, there's the constable and deputy constable. In the municipal and below departments, I've seen the chief, deputy chief, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, coporals, and officers.

Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :

There are also Sherriff departments, which are like State Police Departments, except in different divisions for select areas.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Uh ... well, sherrif departments exist alongside County police. A sherrif and his/her deputies are responsible for serving warrents, and bringing prisoners to and from the courthouse, as well as picking up prisoners from other jurisidictions being handed over on extradition treaties.

Sherrifs and their deputies don't have police powers. They can't pull you over for speeding, and they're not allowed to carry a weapon off-duty.

Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :

Um....so very wrong. I was pulled over by a Sherriff not even 2 months ago. Maybe their powers are just limited in your state. But out here, they are more numerous then city or state cops.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Where do you live? If you're in a very rural area, then yeah, sherrif's and deputies have normal police powers. In more urban areas, they're usually just glorified prisoner transports.

Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :

First of all, a big Flare howdy to youse akb1979!

Two things about the topic:

Police departments, while generally keeping the same organizational structure as the military differ from department to department and may not use the same terms for the same jobs.
The bigger the organization, the more complex it gets. Take my Los Angeles Police Department for example. Huge. Big even. So probably not the same as police structure on Yakima Washington.

Sieggy's list is pretty good, only leaving out Detective.

And about the sheriff Mr. Snay, in the Los Angeles metroplex, several smaller cities contract with the sheriff because the cities can not afford police departments of their own. As a result, the Los Angeles County Serfiff Department is very wide-spread and active. See 'em all the time.

[ September 26, 2001: Message edited by: Jay the Obscure ]

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

:p

[ September 26, 2001: Message edited by: Malnurtured Snay ]

Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :

I just like saying Mr. Snay.

Mr. Snay.

See there how much fun that was.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Do you even know what "Snay" means?

Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :

Can't say as I do.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Ah, well ... anyone?

Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :

You could be an architectural find in Northwestern Cambodia?

quote:
Phum Snay
Cambodia is famed for its magnificent jungle-clad temples but little is known of the rise of the state that created these architectural masterpieces. Recently the construction of a
road in Banteay Meanchey Province in Northwestern Cambodia revealed the remains of a Pre-Angkorian settlement. Villagers discovered rich burials orientated with the head to the
west. Unfortunately this discovery sparked an episode of looting which led to the near destruction of the site. While the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has made
valiant efforts to discourage looting it is a difficult task. Gaping holes spot the landscape with piles of human bone and broken pottery, discarded as valueless, in the spoil heaps.
The looters sell their wares to middlemen who then sell them across the border in Thailand.

Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :

I knew I was leaving something out the ranks: detectives. All in all, I'm still a bit confused about the roles of all the law enforcement agencies carry around here.

Our Sherriff's department apparently have normal police powers and can go normal police calls. This past summer, a deputy was killed while responding to a domestic violence call. However, this wasn't actually inside the Houston city limits, but it was within the city limits of a smaller village outside Houston. I can't say that I've seen Sherriff's department vehicles patrolling in the city limits, but they are out in force in the smaller towns and unincorporated parts of the county. And, yeah, some of the towns too small to maintain a police force due contract out with the Sherriff's department.

I have no real idea how the Constable's department fits into the scheme of things. I have seen their patrols cars all over the place, but I haven't actually seen them do anything. They seem to serve in the city limits as well; two blocks from my dorm is a sign announcing the name of the constable of precinct seven.

Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jay the Obscure:
First of all, a big Flare howdy to youse akb1979!

And the same to you too Jay the Obscure!

Wow! I never expected so many replies in one day to my first request for help! Wow! Thanks guys and gals! I will admit, I am now more confused than ever, having had no idea that the US police force was so complicated. I wonder if the UK force is as complicated? Mmm . . . guess I'll have to check it out!

Many thanks and keep the helpful snippets coming!

Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :

Ah! Just thought of another question!

Got any info on the Air Force? Like if an attack wing is 72 fighters (like Star Wars) how big is a Group? How old are the Squadron Leaders, Wing Commanders etc. . . ?

Am I going about my Internet searches the wrong way? As I can never appear to get such info. Is there a search engine that is really good for such things? Or a website?

(Yes I'm not very experienced with the Net - can you tell? )

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Are we sure all those "ranks" mentioned are really ranks, and not just positions?

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

AKB, as far as Air Wings go ... look for Tom Clancy's non-fiction stuff.

Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :

Well, you've got the smileys down.
I know that the airforce, as a former branch of the US Army, uses the same officer rank system (i.e. 2nd Lt. up to Colonel, and B,M,L,Generals) and that their enlisted start at 'Airman' or something similar. Im not sure specifically the makeup of a fighting squadron, i.e. positions/ranks involved. The brother of my friend is in the USAF but he just paints stencils on bombs in italy so i dont know what he could tell me about flying.

Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Malnurtured Snay:
AKB, as far as Air Wings go ... look for Tom Clancy's non-fiction stuff.

Who and where can I find this stuff?

quote:
Originally posted by TSN:
Are we sure all those "ranks" mentioned are really ranks, and not just positions?

They are in the UK.

quote:
Originally posted by CaptainMike:
Well, you've got the smileys down.

Huh?
Oh and thanks, already knew the US ranks - from Wing Commander

[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: akb1979 ]

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Tom Clancy. Wrote "Patriot Games", "Hunt For Red October", "Clear And Present Danger" ... among others.

He's got in good with the US Military. Look for "Guided Tour to An Aircraft Carrier" or "Guided Tour of a Fighter Wing" ... you can probably find them in the non-fiction or military section of a bookstore. Or check Amazon.com.

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

One police rank I haven't seen mentioned is "Inspector".

Sherrif's have full police powers in West Virginia. You don't see them in cities that much because most cities have there own police force.