6.4: Levels of Policing and their Role

Police organizations operate at various levels in the United States. There are also different roles within individual police agencies. This section will break down those varying levels and roles/responsibilities. When you mention the police, most individuals think of their local police departments, i.e., city or county agencies, but in reality, there are various police entities at various levels of the government. Due to this, the roles of the police at these different levels have varying responsibilities. This also means they work in different environments and take on different tasks. Throughout this section, we will examine a range of careers available within policing and law enforcement field.

Levels of Policing

Just as the United States Government is organized on a federal, state, county, and city hierarchy, police organizations are as well. Each level of government and even subsections within that level have specific law enforcement responsibilities. We will break each of these down and reference some of the different titles and roles they carry.

Federal Level

The federal arena of law enforcement is tasked with investigating and enforcing federal laws as well as protecting federal-level politicians and dignitaries. The federal law enforcement career options vary from working for border patrol to protecting dignitaries to investigating federal law violations. Federal officers are hired within specific federal law enforcement agencies and have specific roles and responsibilities. Their duties do not cross over. For example, if someone is hired with the Secret Service their primary duties will be those related to executive branch dignitary protection, whereas if someone is hired with the U.S. Marshals, their primary duties will be to apprehend federal fugitives and provide dignitary protection for the judicial branch.

State Level

In the United States, law enforcement agencies vary in name and duties, with distinctions often reflecting their primary functions. Highway Patrol agencies primarily focus on traffic-related functions, while State Police typically engage in a broader range of tasks. For instance, State Police agencies commonly incorporate specialized investigation sections, crime labs, and training divisions into their operations. In states where Highway Patrol exists, it may be combined with a State Bureau of Investigation to fulfill comprehensive state-level law enforcement duties. State Police serve individual states, with examples such as the California State Police (but this is primarily California Highway Patrol) and the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) in Nevada, which operates under the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Officers commissioned by the state, often referred to as troopers, have powers of arrest and primarily patrol highways and interstates to enforce laws.

However, many State Police agencies also conduct investigations into various crimes and operate divisions such as criminal forensic labs and departments of fish and wildlife. The specific duties of each state agency are tailored to the needs and circumstances of their respective states.

County Level

There are approximately 3,143 counties in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2022). Each county has an elected Sheriff and deputies who work directly under the Sheriff. Deputies are no different from any other city police officer or state trooper, other than the Sheriff, who can be responsible for the courts and jails (a.k.a. correctional facilities) in their respective counties. Depending on their size and location, counties can cover a variety of geographical areas and responsibilities. It is important to refer to it as the “Office of the Sheriff” or the “Sheriff’s Office” rather than a “Sheriff Department” to emphasize the constitutional and elected nature of the sheriff’s role, highlighting that the sheriff is an elected official entrusted with law enforcement duties, rather than merely the head of a bureaucratic department. This distinction underscores the sheriff’s accountability to the community through the democratic process, reinforcing the principles of transparency, legitimacy, and public oversight within law enforcement agencies.

City Level

City (also known as Municipal) police officers work under a municipality or city. If a city has a government, i.e., mayor, city council members, and a municipal code (misdemeanor laws for the city), then the city can have city police. If an officer works for a city, their title is a police officer. Some cities have a connected jail (also known as a corrections or detention facility), while others are operated by the County Sheriff.

The head of any city police agency is called the chief. City or municipal police chiefs are typically appointed by city officials, such as the mayor or city council, based on their qualifications, experience, and leadership abilities, with the goal of ensuring effective law enforcement and community safety within the city or municipality. This is much different from county agencies, which are led by elected Sheriffs.

City police officers handle all police calls for service within their city limits. This can range from basic law violations to felony crimes. Small city agencies often are tasked with all these types of cases, whereas larger cities may have assignment opportunities to include specialty positions like detectives, K-9 officers, etc.

Divisions within Each Agency

Law enforcement agencies, whether they are federal, county, state, or city, generally have jobs available within two major areas: 1) Commissioned (Sworn) and 2) Civilian (Unsworn). Commissioned or sworn is a term that describes an employee who has been through police training, is certified as a police officer, and has arresting powers in the state. Civilian or unsworn is a term that describes an employee who has not been through police training and does not have arresting powers.