Rank Descriptions

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Ranks & Responsibilities of the Greensboro Police Department

Command Staff
 Ranks  Responsibilities

Chief of Police

CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police is denoted by the four silver stars on the uniform insignia. The Chief of Police is the highest ranking officer in the agency and is considered the department head.

Asst Chief of Police

A Deputy Chief of Police is denoted by the two silver stars on the uniform insignia. The Greensboro Police Department has four deputy chiefs. They serve as bureau commanders over the Patrol, Investigative, Management, and Support bureaus. Each bureau varies in number of officers and function.

Division Commanding Officer

A Division Commanding Officer shall hold the rank of captain, which is denoted by the twin silver bar uniform insignia. Each bureau is organized into various divisions. For example, the Patrol Bureau has five divisions, each with a captain in command.

Lieutenant

Lieutenants typically serve as executive officers within a division. The single silver bar uniform insignia denotes the lieutenant’s rank. Their roles are usually administrative in nature. Lieutenants may also serve as permanent Watch Commanders who oversee agency response operations on a daily basis.

First-Line Supervisor

A first-line supervisor shall hold the rank of Sergeant. The three-stripe chevron uniform insignia denotes the Sergeant’s rank. Most divisions are further organized into the squad level. Squads may consist of several officers too, as many as 10 or more. Each squad is supervised by a Sergeant. Sergeants may also be appointed to specialty positions that have no supervisory responsibility, but merit a higher level of authority. All Professional Standards Investigators are Sergeants.

Corporal

Most squads are assigned a corporal, which is a supervisory position. The Corporal rank is a chevron with two stripes. In addition to their supervisory responsibilities, Corporals also perform functions such as patrol and investigations. Corporals typically act as the supervisor in the Sergeant’s absence.

The ranks of Police Officer III and Police Officer II can serve as Patrol Officer, Traffic Safety Officer, Vice-Narcotics Officer, Detective, etc. Officers in these ranks are not supervisors. Police Officer III is recognized as a Master Police Officer. This rank structure is based upon time in service and a non-competitive promotion process.
Ranks Responsibilities

Police Officer III

Police Officer III rank is a chevron consisting of one-stripe up with two-stripe rocker.

  Police Officer II

Police Officer II rank is a chevron consisting of one-stripe up with a star below.

 

Police Officer I
 Rank  Responsibilities
Police Officer I has no rank insignia.                                             The most junior members of the department, they are eligible for promotion to Police Officer II upon completion of three years of service and the successful completion of a non-competitive promotion process. All Police Officer Is are assigned to the Patrol Bureau

 

Police Training Officers (PTOs) are hand-selected and receive specialized certification to mentor and develop new officers immediately after they graduate from the police academy. PTOs may hold the rank of Police Officer III or Police Officer II. Police Officer III is recognized as a Master Police Officer. PTO rank insignia can be identified by the star in the chevron.
 Ranks  Responsibilities

PTO Police Officer III

Police Officer III rank is a chevron consisting of one-stripe up with two-stripe rocker and a star in the middle.

 PTO Police Officer II

Police Officer II rank is a chevron consisting of one-stripe up with a star below.

 

Non-Sworn Employees differ from sworn officers in that non-sworn employees do not have powers of arrest. Non-sworn employees provide many critical support services such as crime scene investigation processing and communications. Only some non-sworn employees wear uniforms. Uniformed non-sworn personnel shall wear the following ranks:
 Ranks  Responsibilities

Director

Director - Warrant Officer 5 bar, a silver bar with a centered continuous black stripe.

 Assistant Director

Assistant Director - Warrant Officer 4 bar, a silver bar with four centered black squares.

Administrator/Coordinator

Administrator/Coordinator- Warrant Officer 3 bar, a silver bar with three centered black squares.

  Supervisor

Supervisor - Warrant Officer 2 bar, a silver bar with two centered black squares.