Order of authority in the county police departments?

Question

In each police department (state, county, city, etc.) things are different, does anyone know the ranking from highest to lowest for 'county' police departments? I am trying to put together a chart showing ranking from high to low, then a breif line stating the responsibilities of each rank.

Answer 1

Different among all departments, although there are some sort of norms in different areas. Some counties are operated as metro police department, some as sheriff's offices, which may operate as the police department model or the traditional sheriff model. Generally, they might be:

Police Officer/Deputy (I know they all are, but it's also a title) - No supervisory authority. Works as assigned, generally in uniform. Patrols. Makes first response to calls. May have other assignments.

Corporal/Senior Officer/Senior Deputy - (Not used in all agencies) - May or may not have supervisory authority. May be able, though, to make decisions overriding a lesser rank. Often, just a pay grade.

Sergeant - Supervises a group of officers, usually a group working together, such as in one geographical area. May supervise a special unit. But may also be only a pay grade. (Texas Rangers are all Sergeants. There are no privates.) Some places, all detectives are sergeants. Some places not.

Lt. - May supervise a division or a shift or a larger unit, or supervisor of sergeants in that area.

Captain - May be just like above, when an agency does not use lt. Commonly, in smaller departments, supervises a division, like CID or Patrol. In larger departments, may be a city or county wide shift supervisor.

(Sometimes there is a Major fitted in here)

(May also find an Inspector somewhere in here. May be a supervisor or may be a high pay grade for a specialist.)

Deputy Chief/Chief Deputy/Under Sheriff - Just what it says. Assists and act in place of the chief of police or the sheriff. Authority over the entire department, sub only to the chief or sheriff. But some large department have more than one deputy chief (but never more than one chief deputy), with authority over different aspects of the operation or administration.

Chief of Police/Sheriff - Department head and administrator.  

Answer 2

The sheriff is the primary law enforcement officer in every county, his department belongs on top.

As for any other agencies, it is not a question of authority, it is a question of jurisdiction. That is determined by the geographical boundaries by the agency you work for.