Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and th ...
rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it.
Australia
In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the next senior rank from
senior sergeant and is less senior than a
superintendent
Superintendent may refer to:
*Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank
*Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator
*Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
(in the cases of the
Queensland Police
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is the principal law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland. In 1990, the Queensland Police Force was officially renamed the Queensland Police Service and the old motto ...
and
Western Australia Police
The Western Australia Police Force, colloquially WAPOL, provides police services throughout the state of Western Australia, an area of 2.5 million square kilometres, the world's largest non-federated area of jurisdiction, with a population ...
) in the other
Australian police forces. Members holding the rank usually wear an epaulette featuring three silver pips, the same rank badge as a
captain in the
army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
. In addition to the general rank of inspector, some police forces use other ranks such as detective inspector and district inspector.
Austria
In Austria a similar scheme was used as in Germany. At some point the police inspector was completely removed from the list of service ranks. The current police service has an inspectors service track with ''Inspektor'' being the entry level – it is followed by ''Revierinspektor'' (precinct inspector), ''Gruppeninspektor'' (group inspector), ''Bezirksinspektor'' (district inspector), ''Abteilungsinspektor'' (section inspector), ''Kontrollinspektor'' (control inspector) and ''Chefinspektor'' (chief inspector).
Canada
In most
Canadian police services the rank of inspector is the first officer/commissioned officer rank, above that of
staff sergeant. It is usually immediately below the rank of
superintendent
Superintendent may refer to:
*Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank
*Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator
*Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
. Depending on the police force, an inspector may be considered senior management. The rank insignia of an inspector in Canada is usually a crown on the epaulettes, the insignia of a major in the army. In some police services such as the
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) is the provincial police service for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is one of three provincial police forces in Canada, alongside the Ontario Provincial ...
or the
Vancouver Police Department
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) (french: Service de police de Vancouver) is the police force for the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several police departments within the Metro Vancouver Area and is the second ...
, the rank insignia are three pips, similar to the insignia of an army captain, while in others including the
Toronto Police Service
The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is a municipal police force in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the primary agency responsible for providing law enforcement and policing services in Toronto. Established in 1834, it was the first local police ser ...
and
Peel Regional Police
The Peel Regional Police (PRP) provide policing services for Peel Region (excluding Caledon) in Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest municipal police service in Ontario after the Toronto Police Service and third largest municipal force in C ...
, the insignia consists of two maple leaves, similar to an army lieutenant's insignia.
Provincial police services and the majority of municipal police services, such as the
Toronto Police Service
The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is a municipal police force in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the primary agency responsible for providing law enforcement and policing services in Toronto. Established in 1834, it was the first local police ser ...
have a staff inspector rank, which ranks above inspector and below superintendent. Other
Commonwealth police agencies and some American police departments, such as the
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD or Philly PD) is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PPD is one of the oldest municipal police agencies, fourth largest ...
, also have staff inspectors.
France
In the
French National Police
The National Police (french: Police nationale), formerly known as the , is one of two national police forces of France, the other being the National Gendarmerie. The National Police is the country's main civil law enforcement agency, with prima ...
, ''inspecteur'' is a former rank of members of the Command and Management Corps. There were several grades of ''inspecteur'', with senior detectives holding the various grades of ''
commissaire''. See
French National Police
The National Police (french: Police nationale), formerly known as the , is one of two national police forces of France, the other being the National Gendarmerie. The National Police is the country's main civil law enforcement agency, with prima ...
for current ranks. In the
French customs, ''inspecteur'' is the first rank of members of the Command and Management Corps.
Germany
Currently, in Germany, ''Inspektor'' is a civil service rank. It is the lowest and therefore the entry rank of the ''gehobener Dienst'' (upper service) requiring a degree from a three-year administrative college. The rank is not used in the German police services; there the equivalent of inspector is ''Kommissar''. In earlier times the upper service track was called ''Inspektorenlaufbahn'' (inspectors service track) ranging from ''Inspektor'', ''Oberinspektor'' (senior inspector), ''
Amtmann
__NOTOC__
The ''Amtmann'' or ''Ammann'' (in Switzerland) was an official in German-speaking countries of Europe and in some of the Nordic countries from the time of the Middle Ages whose office was akin to that of a bailiff. He was the most seni ...
'', ''Amtsrat'' to ''Oberamtsrat'' (senior supervisor).
The title is used on many professional areas that require an inspection service, like ''Brandinspektor'' (fire inspector in the fire department), ''Steuerinspektor'' (tax inspector in the financial department) and ''Bauinspektor'' (building inspector in building control) that are in a supervision position of their department. In many administrations, a corresponding position exists like ''Regierungsinspektor'' (government inspector on the federal level), ''Stadtinspektor''/''Stadtverwaltungsinspektor'' (city administration inspector), ''Kreisinspektor''/''Kreisverwaltungsinspektor'' (county administration inspector) that serve in supervision of the department.
In some regions ''Inspektor'' is a colloquial name for any police officer, just like in Austria.
Hong Kong
In the
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
, inspector (including probationary inspector, senior inspector) is a rank senior to
station sergeant but junior to
chief inspector
Chief inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP).
Usage by country Australia
The rank of chief inspector is us ...
, leading a sub-unit between 30 and 80 people in day-to-day policing. The rank badge for probationary inspector is one silver pip on his or her epaulette; two silver pips for inspector of police; and two silver pips and one bar for senior inspector of police. The epaulettes rank badge for chief inspector is three silver pips. The epaulettes of all inspectors do not show their unique identification number. Plainclothes detective inspectors have the prefix "detective" identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or Organised Crime Triad Bureau (OCTB).
Several of the HKP's past and current commissioner of chiefs joined the force as an probationary inspector.
The
Customs and Excise Department also has an inspector rank but with bronze stars and bars rank badges instead.
In addition, there are health inspectors from the
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department who carry out investigations and prosecutions on sanitary nuisances and food business irregularities under relevant ordinances. They are characterised by golden stars and yellow rank badges.
India
![Police_Inspector_insignia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Police_Inspector_insignia.png)
Inspectors of police in India are typically the officers in charge at a police station. In a police station in India, there are constables, the head constable, an assistant sub-inspector, a sub-inspector and an inspector. They have the three-star insignia to indicate their position and are high command officers. The inspector rank is higher than the sub-inspector rank and lower than the deputy superintendent (DSP) rank. Inspectors, along with sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, comprise around 13% of the total police personnel in India.
Indonesia
In the
Indonesian National Police, there are four levels of inspector, which are ''Inspektur Polisi Satu'' (first police inspector), ''Inspektur Polisi Dua'' (senior police inspector), ''Ajun Inspektur Polisi Satu'' (first police inspector
adjutant), and ''Ajun Inspektur Polisi Dua'' (second police inspector adjutant). Those ranks are below the rank of ''Ajun Komisaris Polisi'' (police commissioner adjutant) and above the rank of ''Brigadir Polisi Kepala'' (chief police brigadier).
Republic of Ireland
In the ''
Garda Síochána'', inspectors () are senior to sergeants and junior to
superintendents. Inspectors may be either detectives or in uniform.
Italy
In the ''
Polizia di Stato
The ''Polizia di Stato'' (State Police or P.S.) is one of the national police forces of Italy.
Alongside the Carabinieri, it is the main police force for providing police duties, primarily to cities and large towns, and with its child agencie ...
'', the position of ''Ispettore'' (inspector) replaced the rank of ''
Maresciallo
The Italian military rank of ''maresciallo'' (; marshal) is classified as a " sub-officer" and is the highest rank of non-commissioned officer in the Italian Armed Forces, higher than the rank of sergeant but lower than that of ensign/second lieu ...
'' (marshal) after the 1981 reorganization and
demilitarization
Demilitarisation or demilitarization may mean the reduction of state armed forces; it is the opposite of militarisation in many respects. For instance, the demilitarisation of Northern Ireland entailed the reduction of British security and military ...
of the corps; an ''Ispettore'' is thus a
sergeant of several sorts, above the rank of ''Sovrintendente'' (
superintendent
Superintendent may refer to:
*Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank
*Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator
*Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
, which is somewhat equal to a
senior corporal) and under the rank of ''
Commissario'' (commissioner). There are three four inspector ranks in the ''Polizia di Stato'': ''Vice Ispettore'' (assistant inspector), ''Ispettore'' (inspector), ''Ispettore Capo'' (
chief inspector
Chief inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP).
Usage by country Australia
The rank of chief inspector is us ...
) and ''Ispettore Superiore'' (special inspector, or superior inspector), roughly equivalent to the ranks ranging from
junior sergeant A junior sergeant is a military rank used in the armed forces of many countries. It is usually placed below sergeant.
Russia
Junior sergeant (russian: Младший сержант, Mladshy serzhant) is the designation to the lowest rank in the ...
to
second lieutenant. A fifth position, called ''Ispettore Superiore S.U.P.S.'', where the acronym stands for ''Sostituto Ufficiale di Pubblica Sicurezza'' (special inspector – substitute public safety commissioned officer), is used to designate those inspectors which can act as substitutes for
commissioners in the
chain of command
A command hierarchy is a group of people who carry out orders based on others' authority within the group. It can be viewed as part of a power structure, in which it is usually seen as the most vulnerable and also the most powerful part.
Milit ...
under certain situations, or in police detachments that are too small to require the presence of a commissioner; when this happens, the officer is named ''Ispettore Superiore – Sostituto Commissario'' (special inspector – substitute commissioner). Inspectors can serve either in uniformed patrol duties, plainclothed patrol duties, or as detectives. The inspector ranks are the highest that an Italian police officer can reach without having a university degree.
Malaysia
In the
Royal Malaysia Police
The Royal Malaysia Police (often abbreviated RMP) ( ms, Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM)), is a (primarily) uniformed national and federal police force in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organisation. Its headquarters are located at Bukit Aman ...
, the rank of inspector is one level above sub-inspector and one level below assistant superintendent. There are two stages: probation inspector (probation lasts within three years) and inspector. Inspectors are recruited differently from normal police constables, requiring at least a degree, and their training is longer.
Montenegro
In the
Police of Montenegro, the title of police inspector (''policijski inspektor'') is reserved for college or police academy educated staff, with six ranks based on seniority (junior police inspector, police inspector, police inspector I class, independent police inspector, senior police inspector, senior police inspector I class and chief police inspector). Although supervisory staff in uniformed police units also hold various police inspector ranks, in common parlance, the title of ''inspector'' is usually used referring to police officers working in plainclothes in criminal investigation units, equivalent to ''detective'' in some countries.
There are also numerous civilian ''inspector'' titles, fitting various inspection and supervision roles within governmental structure of Montenegro (health inspector, tax inspector, tourism inspector, etc.)
Nepal
In
Nepal Police
Nepal Police is the national and primary law enforcement agency of Nepal. It is primarily responsible for maintaining law and order, prevention of crime and crime investigation within the jurisdiction determined by the Constitution of Nepal. ...
, the rank of inspector is generally the next senior rank from Senior sub inspector (SSI) and is less senior than a deputy superintendent of police (DSP). Members holding the rank usually wear an epaulette featuring one pair of crossed
kukri
The kukri () or khukuri ( ne, खुकुरी, ) is a type of machete with a distinct recurve in its blade. It serves multiple purposes as a melee weapon and also as a regular cutting tool throughout most of South Asia. The ''kukri'', ''kh ...
, the same rank badge as an inspector in the
Armed Police Force
The Armed Police Force, Nepal is a paramilitary land force tasked with counter-insurgency operations in Nepal. It functions as a semi-military wing, and occupies a sort of dual role as both military and law enforcement. Service is volunta ...
.
Papua New Guinea
In the
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) is a national police force with jurisdiction throughout all of Papua New Guinea.
History
The RPNGC was formed from two predecessor bodies that existed prior to the independence of Papua New Guinea. ...
, the rank of inspector is one level above
chief sergeant Chief sergeant is a rank used in uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces.
NATO code
While the rank of chief sergeant is used in a number of NATO countries, it is ranked differently depending on the country.
Insignia of ...
and below senior inspector. Officer cadets normally graduate and automatically become an inspector.
Philippines
In the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, inspector is a rank in the
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the
Bureau of Fire Protection
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP; Filipino: ''Kawanihan ng Pagtatanggol sa Sunog'') is the government body in the Philippines responsible for the provision of fire services. It is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and L ...
. It is above the senior officer 4 (sergeant) and below the senior inspector (captain). It is regarded as an equivalent of a lieutenant in the Army.
Poland
In
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
, inspector (''inspektor'') is a high rank (above ''podinspektor'' and ''młodszy inspektor'', but below ''nadinspektor''), comparable to
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...
of the armed forces.
Romania
In the
Romanian Police
The Romanian Police ( ro, Poliția Română, ) is the national police force and main civil law enforcement agency in Romania. It is subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and it is led by a General Inspector with the rank of Secretary ...
, inspector is a rank senior to ''
subinspector'' and junior to ''
inspector principal'' and corresponds to the former rank of police
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
(''see
Romanian Police§Ranks'').
Singapore
In the
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is the national and principal Police, law enforcement agency responsible for the prevention of crime and law enforcement in the Republic of Singapore. It is the country's lead agency against organised crime; huma ...
, there are several ranks that have the title of inspector in it.
In the junior police officer category, there is the rank of station inspector, senior station inspector and senior station inspector (2). The title of inspector is in the senior police officer category. For
National Servicemen, outstanding policemen may be appointed as a National Service probationary inspector.
In the
National Police Cadet Corps
The National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) is one of the national uniformed group for youths between age 13 to 17 in Singapore. The organisation is supported by the Ministry of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational governme ...
, the rank of probationary inspector is given to officer cadet trainees who have successfully completed their Officers' Basic Training Course or Honorary Officers' Basic Training Course. Probationary inspectors who pass their probationary period will then attain the rank of inspector. The rank insignia of probationary inspector and inspector is two pips, with the letters NPCC below it, so as to differentiate NPCC inspectors from Singapore Police Force personnel.
Spain
In
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, the rank of inspector exists in the National Police Force of Spain ('), the
Catalan Police Force, and several municipal police forces.
Sri Lanka
In the
Sri Lanka Police, inspector of police (IP) is senior to ''
sub-inspector'' and junior to ''
chief inspector
Chief inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP).
Usage by country Australia
The rank of chief inspector is us ...
''. In many towns, inspectors would be the
officer in charge (OIC) at most
police station
A police station (sometimes called a "station house" or just "house") is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, ...
s. The rank insignia for a police inspector is two stars. All those officers are deemed to be gazzated officers and staff grade officers of public service.
In addition to the police, the term inspector is used in other government departments for posts such as ''chief inspector of excise'', ''inspector of excise'', ''chief inspector of customs'', ''inspector of customs'', ''co-operative inspector'', ''fisheries inspector'',
public health inspector.
United Kingdom
![Inspector Epaulette](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Inspector_Epaulette.svg)
Within the
British police, inspector is the second
supervisory rank. It is senior to that of
sergeant, and junior to that of
chief inspector
Chief inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP).
Usage by country Australia
The rank of chief inspector is us ...
. The rank is mostly operational, meaning that inspectors are directly concerned with day-to-day policing. Uniformed inspectors are often responsible for supervising a duty shift made up of constables and sergeants, or act in specialist roles such as supervising
road traffic policing.
The rank of inspector has existed since the foundation of the
Metropolitan Police,
formed in 1829, when it was used to designate the rank immediately below that of
superintendent
Superintendent may refer to:
*Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank
*Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator
*Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
, and many
Commonwealth police forces also use the term.
Plainclothes detective inspectors are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix "detective" identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of or attached to their force's
Criminal Investigation Department
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of a police force to which most plainclothes detectives belong in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth nations. A force's CID is distinct from its Special Branch (though officers of b ...
(CID).
The
epaulette
Epaulette (; also spelled epaulet) is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. Flexible metal epaulettes (usually made from brass) are referred to as ''shoulder scales' ...
s of uniformed inspectors, unlike those of constables and sergeants, do not show a
divisional or
personal identification number. Instead they feature
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved Bathing#Medieval ...
stars, informally known as "pips", being the same insignia as those of a
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
in the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
.
newly promoted inspectors receive a salary of £53,000 (£55,000 London) rising to £57,000 (£59,000 London).
In the Metropolitan Police, the rank was formerly officially known as station inspector to distinguish it from the more senior rank of
sub-divisional inspector (abolished in 1949). A station inspector wore a single star on his epaulettes until 1936, when this changed to a star over two bars to accommodate the new rank of
junior station inspector (wearing a star over one bar).
United States
In the United States, the term inspector can have very different meanings depending on the law enforcement agency.
Municipal police
An inspector in a US municipal police department is more likely to be a senior executive officer, analogous to a
Commonwealth police
superintendent
Superintendent may refer to:
*Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank
*Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator
*Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
or
chief superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces, especially in those organised on the British model.
Rank insignia of chief superintendent
File:Sa-police-chief-superintendent.png, South Australia Police
File:RCMP Chief Superintendent.pn ...
. It may also be a title held by a supervisor of detectives.
In the
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department (NYPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, established on May 23, 1845, is the primary municipal law enforcement agency within the City of New York, the largest and one of the oldest in ...
, a deputy inspector is one grade above captain, wearing the insignia of a military major, and an inspector is another grade higher, wearing the insignia of a military colonel. In the
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD or Philly PD) is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PPD is one of the oldest municipal police agencies, fourth largest ...
, a staff inspector is a grade above captain and an inspector is another grade higher, with the insignia of a lieutenant colonel. An inspector is also two grades above a captain in the
Baltimore Police Department,
Nassau County Police Department
The Nassau County Police Department is the law enforcement agency of Nassau County, New York.
History
In 1925, concerned about rising crime rates, the County Board of Supervisors voted to create the Nassau County Police Department, replacin ...
and
Suffolk County Police Department
The Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) provides police services to 5 of the 10 Towns in Suffolk County, New York. It is one of the largest police agencies in the United States, with approximately 2500 sworn officers.
History
Prior to 196 ...
.
Inspector is more rarely used as a rank that is one grade above
captain, such as in the
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC), more commonly known as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the DC Police, and, colloquially, the DCPD, is the primary law enforcement agency for the District of Columbi ...
. This is equivalent to a major or
commander in other departments. The
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officially known as the City of Los Angeles Police Department, is the municipal police department of Los Angeles, California. With 9,974 police officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the third-large ...
formerly had a rank of inspector for this purpose. It was changed to commander in 1974.
In the police departments of
Hayward, California,
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...
and formerly in
Berkeley, California, inspector was the rank held by a senior detective.
In the
San Francisco Police Department, inspector is the normal title for a detective. Unlike detectives in most other departments, inspectors in San Francisco always have supervisory duties. This is one of the few modern remaining cases of inspector being used as a title for detectives. A few other police or sheriff's departments, such as the
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,871 at the 2020 U.S. census. Portsmouth is the second-oldest municipality in Rhode Island, after Providence; it was one of the four colonies which merged ...
police department, also use the title in that capacity.
Inspector is sometimes used as the title for internal affairs investigators within a police or sheriff's department, including in Florida's
Alachua County Sheriff's Office Alachua may refer to:
* Alachua County, Florida, United States
* Alachua, Florida, a city in Alachua County, Florida
* Alachua culture, the archaeological designation of the Native American culture in north-central Florida, c. AD 700 to 1700
* Ala ...
.
State police
In the
Wisconsin State Patrol
The Wisconsin State Patrol is the state patrol for the state of Wisconsin and is a division of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The Wisconsin State Patrol enforces traffic and criminal laws, oversees the motor carrier safety and weight ...
, and others, inspectors are state troopers assigned to the motor carrier safety inspection unit where they enforce trucking laws and regulations. The
Michigan State Police
The Michigan State Police (MSP) is the state police agency for the U.S. state of Michigan. The MSP is a full-service law enforcement agency, with its sworn members having full police powers statewide.
The department was founded in 1917 as a wart ...
recognizes inspector as a formal rank. Unlike municipal or county police/sheriffs' inspectors, Michigan State Police inspectors are a grade below captain, instead of at least one grade above. New York State Police staff inspectors are senior commissioned officers holding the rank above major and below lieutenant colonel.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau uses the title of inspector for its sworn state law enforcement agents/investigators. The inspectors of this agency investigate motor vehicle theft, title and odometer frauds, state issued identification and driver's license frauds, as well as regulate and inspect motor vehicle dealerships, repair shops, tow and storage facilities, and emissions and safety inspection centers. The NC DMV License and Theft Bureau is the state's oldest law enforcement agency and was formed in 1921 to combat vehicle theft with the rising sales of Ford's Model T. The agency has kept the title designation of inspector for traditional purposes.
The
Oregon Liquor Control Commission
The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), formerly known as Oregon Liquor Control Commission is a government agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. The OLCC was created by an act of the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1933, days after the re ...
uses the title of inspector for sworn law enforcement agents who investigate violations of the Liquor Control Act and other related crimes.
Federal agencies
In the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...
(FBI), an inspector is a
special agent whose main duty is inspecting local field offices and resident agencies to make sure they are operating efficiently. Since FBI inspectors are not tied to any particular field office, they have, in the past, also been used as troubleshooting investigators on major cases.
Joseph Sullivan was perhaps the best-known of the Bureau's major case inspectors and served as the model for Inspector Lew Erskine, the fictional character played by
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (November 30, 1918 – May 2, 2014) was an American actor known for his starring roles in the television series ''77 Sunset Strip'' and ''The F.B.I.'' He is also known as recurring character "Dandy Jim Buckley" in the se ...
in the 1965–1974
ABC TV series ''
The FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...
''.
Samuel P. Cowley was an FBI inspector in the late 1920s and 1930s who assisted in bringing down notorious gangsters such as
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an American gangster during the Great Depression. He led the Dillinger Gang, which was accused of robbing 24 banks and four police stations. Dillinger was imprisoned several times an ...
in the early 1930s, before his death in November 1934 in a gun battle with
Baby Face Nelson
Lester Joseph Gillis (December 6, 1908 – November 27, 1934), also known as George Nelson and Baby Face Nelson, was an American bank robber who became a criminal partner of John Dillinger, when he helped Dillinger escape from prison, in Crown P ...
.
The
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The USMS is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforc ...
and the
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA; ) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with combating drug trafficking and distribution within the U.S. It is the lead agency for domestic en ...
employ similar positions, but they primarily serve as internal affairs investigators.
The
United States Park Police
The United States Park Police (USPP) is one of the oldest uniformed federal law enforcement agencies in the United States. It functions as a full-service law enforcement agency with responsibilities and jurisdiction in those National Park Servic ...
changed the rank of inspector to the rank of major, which is between captain and deputy chief.
In the
Postal Inspection Service, inspector is the name given to 1811
job series criminal investigators, better known as
special agents in most other federal law enforcement agencies.
Prior to 2003, the US Customs Service (USCS) and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) had uniformed law enforcement employees called customs inspectors and immigration inspectors. These employees inspected and processed people and merchandise entering the United States from foreign countries, at a land border, seaport or airport. They wore different types of uniforms and had different duties, but were paid essentially the same. After US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was established with the merging of the above two agencies, the inspectors were retitled Customs and Border Protection Officers and merged their responsibilities.
Administrative law
In American
administrative law
Administrative law is the division of law that governs the activities of executive branch agencies of government. Administrative law concerns executive branch rule making (executive branch rules are generally referred to as "regulations"), ad ...
, an inspector is an official charged with the duty to issue permits, such as a
building inspector
A building inspection is an inspection performed by a building inspector, a person who is employed by either a city, township or county and is usually certified in one or more disciplines qualifying them to make professional judgment about whether ...
or sanitation inspector, and to enforce the relevant regulations and laws. These positions are commonly known as the fire inspector or building inspector. The duty it act is based on the adopted building or fire code in the municipality.
Inspector911.com
/ref> A government agency may also have an inspector general responsible for preventing internal fraud, waste, abuse and other agency deficiencies.
In popular culture
In fiction, "Inspector" is often used as a term and title for a detective, even if their duties and role does not match that of an inspector in a Commonwealth police force. Examples of fictional inspectors include the characters Inspector Clouseau
Inspector Jacques Clouseau (), later granted the rank of Chief Inspector, is a fictional character in Blake Edwards' farcical '' The Pink Panther'' series. He is portrayed by Peter Sellers in the original series, and also by Alan Arkin in ...
, Inspector Gadget
''Inspector Gadget'' is a media franchise that began in 1983 with the DIC Entertainment animated television series '' Inspector Gadget''. Since the original series, there have been many spin-offs based on the show, including additional animated ...
, Inspector Zenigata
, usually called and formerly Heiji Zenigata VII, is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series ''Lupin III'', which debuted in '' Weekly Manga Action'' on August 10, 1967. He is named after the famous fictional Japanes ...
, Inspector Javert
Javert (), no first name given in the source novel, is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables.'' He was presumably born in 1780 and died on June 7, 1832. First a prison guard, and then a polic ...
, Inspector Lestrade
Detective Inspector G. Lestrade, or Mr. Lestrade ( or ), is a fictional character appearing in several of the Sherlock Holmes stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Lestrade's first appearance was in the first Sherlock Holmes story, the novel '' ...
, Inspector Morse
Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, GM, is the eponymous fictional character in the series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter. On television, he appears in the 33-episode drama series '' Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000), ...
, Inspector Palmu
Inspector Frans J. Palmu ( fi, Komisario Palmu), depicted as "a gruff detective of the Helsinki police department", is one of the most popular characters created by Finnish writer Mika Waltari (who is, however, better known outside Finland for his ...
, Kurt Wallander
Kurt Wallander () is a fictional Swedish police inspector created by Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell (1948 – 2015). He is the protagonist of many thriller/mystery novels set in and around the town of Ystad, south-east of the city of M ...
, and Inspector Goole, the title character of ''An Inspector Calls
''An Inspector Calls'' is a play written by English dramatist J. B. Priestley, first performed in the Soviet Union in 1945 and at the New Theatre in London the following year. It is one of Priestley's best-known works for the stage and is c ...
''.
See also
* Police rank
Police ranks are a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships in police organizations. The rank system defines authority and responsibility in a police organization, and affects the culture within the police force. Police ranks, dependent on ...
* Detective
* Investigator (disambiguation)
* Special agent
* Suffixes
In linguistics, a suffix is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case endings, which indicate the grammatical case of nouns, adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs. Suffixes can carry g ...
(or, er, ar, history)
References
{{Reflist, 30em
Administrative law
Detectives and criminal investigators
Law enforcement
Police ranks
Police ranks in the United Kingdom