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What does a Police Chief do?

Vicki Hogue-Davies
Vicki Hogue-Davies

As the top law enforcement officer in a city, town or other municipality, a police chief is responsible for leading the police force. The ultimate responsibility for this person, also known as chief of police, is to protect the public and public property. To carry out this duty, he or she oversees the police officers who make up the police force for the city or town. This person also sets the mission and direction for the police department and establishes its goals.

Duties vary widely for police chiefs, depending on the size and demographics of the area they serve. One basic responsibility usually is managing the departmental operations and budget. In small towns, he or she might be the only paid law enforcement officer, so patrolling and other hands-on police duties will be primary. In large cities, the chief of police might oversee thousands of officers and civilian employees and manage an extremely large budget. He or she often will spend much of the day in meetings discussing crime issues and departmental management concerns.

The police chief is the leader of the police force and the one who establishes their goals.
The police chief is the leader of the police force and the one who establishes their goals.

Hiring, firing, and disciplining officers and other personnel is also normally the job of the police chief. Establishing and overseeing citizen volunteer and youth development programs, such as a neighborhood watch or police explorers, falls under the umbrella of the job as well. He or she might also be responsible for ensuring that the department's police cruisers and other equipment are in good working order and coordinating other departmental assets. Forming plans to combat gangs and graffiti and implementing anti-terrorism task forces are other examples of his or her activities.

Some police chiefs are elected officials.
Some police chiefs are elected officials.

Police chiefs usually are appointed by the mayor, city manager, city council, or other city official. Sometimes they are elected, depending on the locale. They often are expected to attend city council and city management meetings to report about issues and events related to their departments.

Top officers also interact with various other city departments in their day-to-day jobs. They work closely with fire departments to provide emergency services, as well as with public works, maintenance, and transportation departments.

The police chief is responsible for ensuring police vehicles are maintained.
The police chief is responsible for ensuring police vehicles are maintained.

Other titles for a chief of police include constable, chief constable, and police commissioner. In the United States, sheriff also is a title for the head of a police organization, although the roles of police chief and sheriff differ in that the chief of police usually is appointed, and a sheriff is elected by the people.

Discussion Comments

Belted
Being a police chief is really more about being a good manager and a good politician than being a good cop. Basically, police chiefs don't go chasing after bad guys, they sit behind desks and sign forms and think about pension negotiations.
Leonidas226

The American police force has a tough job. They have to deal with people's assumptions about police which are usually quite negative. Americans expect America to be free, but what they fail to realize is that freedom requires enforcement. Anarchy hinders freedom, since there are no restrictions in place.

Renegade

@Tufenkian925

I don't think that the picture is as dark as you have painted it. Certainly there has been historic corruption in certain legal forces, but awareness of this fact has caused it to be reduced drastically. You would fail to walk a fine line between rational fear and paranoia if you were to make large-scale assumptions about the world being controlled by the mafia.

Tufenkian925

I have heard rumors that many police chiefs are in the Mafia. These men use the legal system as a shield and have dealings with shady customers for the sake of making money and covering their trails. It is important to be aware of the fact that there is widespread corruption in the FBI and in police forces everywhere. There are no moral superheroes.

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    • The police chief is the leader of the police force and the one who establishes their goals.
      By: Chlorophylle
      The police chief is the leader of the police force and the one who establishes their goals.
    • Some police chiefs are elected officials.
      By: Christian Schwier
      Some police chiefs are elected officials.
    • The police chief is responsible for ensuring police vehicles are maintained.
      By: mario beauregard
      The police chief is responsible for ensuring police vehicles are maintained.
    • A police chief might focus on gang and graffiti activity.
      By: Katrin Lantzsch
      A police chief might focus on gang and graffiti activity.
    • A police chief organizes responses to demonstrators.
      By: satori
      A police chief organizes responses to demonstrators.