Los Angeles Police Department - Rank Structure and Insignia

Rank Structure and Insignia

See also: Police ranks of the United States
Senior ranks Insignia Notes
Chief of Police Appointment made by the Mayor of Los Angeles. Must have a college degree and 12 years in law enforcement.
Assistant Chief
(Police Deputy Chief II)		 Eligible to be appointed to Deputy Chief I after at least one years service as a Commander.
Police Deputy Chief I
Police Commander Eligibility for rank promotion achieved after completion of required probationary periods.
Police Captain III
Police Captain II
Police Captain I
Police Lieutenant II
Police Lieutenant I
Insignia are worn as metal pins on the collars of a shirt and as shoulder marks on a jacket.
Police officers Insignia Detectives Insignia Notes
Police Sergeant II Police Detective III At least two years service as Sergeant II or Detective III before eligibility for promotion to Lieutenant I.
Police Sergeant I Police Detective II Promotion based on panel interview/departmental assessment.
Police Detective I
Police Officer III ‡ At least one year's service as Police Officer III before becoming eligible for promotion to Sergeant I or Detective I (after an additional examination and interview).
Police Officer II No insignia At least three years service as a Police Officer II before eligibility for promotion to Police Officer III
Police Officer I Automatic promotion to Police Officer II upon satisfactory completion of an 18-month probationary assignment (6 months at the academy + 12-month field assessments).
Insignia are worn as embroidered chevrons on the upper sleeves of a shirt or jacket.
‡ Certain Police Officer IIIs in special or hazard pay situations, designated as Police Officer III+1s, are denoted by a Police Officer III insignia and star. These roles can include traffic follow-up investigators, canine training handlers, SWAT assistant squad leaders, and Senior Lead Officers who coordinate geographical areas.
  • Specialized unit insignia are worn at the top of the sleeve beneath the shoulder for officers assigned to the traffic divisions, and Air Support Division. Officers assigned to area patrol divisions have historically not worn any departmental shoulder patch.
  • Service stripes are worn above the left cuff on a long-sleeved shirt. Each silver stripe represents five years of service in the LAPD.

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