The police in Canada's ranks differ according to the different police forces and depend on different laws at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The rank system of the RCMP is partly a result of their origin as a paramilitary force. Upon its founding on February 1, 1920, the RCMP adopted the rank insignia of the Canadian Army (which in turn came from the British Army), which is almost identical to that of the current Canadian Army. Like in the military, the RCMP also has a distinction between commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The non-commissioned ranks are mostly based on military ranks (apart from constable). Non-commissioned officer ranks above staff sergeant resemble those that formerly existed in the Canadian Army but have since been replaced by warrant officers. The commissioned officer ranks, by contrast, use a set of non-military titles that are often used in Commonwealth police services. The number of higher ranks, like chief superintendent and a deputy commissioner, has been added to and increased since the formation of the force, while the lower commissioned rank of sub-inspector has been dropped.
Officers Commissioner Superintendent InspectorSlip on rank slides
Others Non-commissioned officers Constables DepotSlip on rank slides
Parliamentary Protective Service
The PPS uses a similar ranks system to the RCMP, with the director being a chief superintendent on secondment from the RCMP. The officer-in-charge of PPS operations holds the rank of superintendent, team managers hold the rank of sergeant, supervisors hold the rank of corporal, and officers with no leadership responsibility hold the rank of constable.
Alberta Alberta Sheriffs Branch Peace officer ranks for the Alberta Sheriffs Branch:
RanksChief sheriffDeputy chiefSuperintendentInspectorBranch sergeant majorSergeantSheriff III FTOSheriff IIISheriff IISheriff IInsigniaNo insigniaNo insignia
Calgary Police Service
RankChiefDeputy chiefSuperintendentInspectorRegimental sergeant majorStaff sergeantSergeantSenior constable level 2Senior constable level 1Constable (classes 1 to 5) Auxiliary (non-sworn)InsigniaNo insigniaNo insigniaSlip-onSlip-onSlip-onSlip-onArm patchArm patchArm patchArm patchArm patch
Edmonton Police Service
RanksChief of policeDeputy chiefSuperintendentInspectorCorps sergeant majorStaff sergeantSergeantSenior constableConstableInsignia No insignia
Lethbridge Police Service RanksChief of policeDeputy chiefInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantSenior constableConstableInsigniaNo insignia
British Columbia British Columbia Sheriff Service
RanksChief sheriffDeputy chiefSuperintendentStaff inspectorInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantDeputy sheriff Recruit sheriffInsignia
British Columbia Conservation Officer Service
Chief conservation officer Deputy chief conservation officer Inspector Department Sergeant Major Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Conservation officer
British Columbia Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement
No traditional ranking system outside of the ceremonial unit is in place. Departmental sergeant major - Troop sergeant - three chevrons - one chevron
Metro Vancouver Transit Police
RankChief officerDeputy chief officerSuperintendentInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantConstableInsignia
New Westminster Police Department
RankChief constableDeputy chief constableSuperintendent MajorSuperintendentInspectorStaff SergeantSergeantCorporalFirst class constable qualifiedFirst class constableSecond class constableThird class constableFourth class constableInsignia
Vancouver Police Department
RankChief constableDeputy chief constableSuperintendentInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantPolice constable 1st class/detectivePolice constable 2nd classPolice constable 3rd classPolice constable 4th classInsignia
Special municipal constable (traffic authority/jail guard/community safety personnel)
Other British Columbia Police Services
Abbotsford Delta Nelson Port Moody Surrey West Vancouver Victoria
[icon] This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2026)
Manitoba Winnipeg Police Service
RankChief of policeDeputy chief of policeSuperintendentInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantDetective sergeant / patrol sergeantSenior constableConstableInsignia
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador Royal Newfoundland Constabulary The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is the provincial police service for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
RankCommanding officersSenior officersPolice officersOfficers in trainingChief constableDeputy chiefSuperintendentInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantConstableCadetInsignia
High Sheriff of Newfoundland and Labrador The Office of the High Sheriff of Newfoundland and Labrador is a provincial law enforcement agency in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1729, it is the oldest law enforcement agency in Canada.
High sheriff Sub-sheriff Deputy sheriff II Deputy sheriff I Bailiff
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Sheriff Service The Nova Scotia Sheriff Service enforce orders from the courts in Nova Scotia and provide protective services to the Judiciary and courts system staff. At justice centres a sheriff leads a group of Sheriff Service staff, with all others being deputy sheriffs.
Halifax Regional Police Rank structure within the Halifax Regional Police is a standard structure similar to many other law enforcement organizations within Canada. Starting with the highest-ranking commissioned officer within the department Chief of Police to the lowest rank of Constable. +Rank StructureInsigniaChief of PoliceN/ADeputy ChiefN/ASuperintendentN/AInspectorN/AStaff SergeantN/ASergeantN/AConstableN/A
Nunavut
Ontario Ontario Provincial Police Rank structure within the Ontario Provincial Police is paramilitary or quasi-military in nature, with several "non-commissioned" ranks leading to the "officer" ranks. Detective ranks fall laterally with the uniform ranks and is not a promotion above. Police constables in the OPP are uniquely known as "provincial constables."
A “2IC” epaulette has now been added to denote the platoon second in command. The 2IC is responsible for leading the platoon during short term absences of the platoon sergeant or acting sergeant. Epaulettes are worn whether performing supervisory duties or not.
RankCommissionerDeputy commissionerChief superintendentSuperintendentInspectorSergeant majorStaff sergeant / Detective staff sergeantSergeant / Detective sergeantPlatoon Second in Command (2IC)Provincial constable / Detective constable1st to 4th classInsignia (slip-on)Insignia (shoulder board) TitleSpecial constableSpecial constableAuxiliary constableInsigniaNotes GHQ security, Queen's Park security Digital forensics, forensic investigators, court security, offender transport Auxiliary policing program
Historic now defunct ranks: Staff superintendent Divisional inspector Cadet
Toronto Police Service and York Regional Police The rank insignia of the Toronto Police Service is similar to that used by police services elsewhere in Canada and in the United Kingdom, except that the usual "pips" are replaced by maple leaves. The St. Edward's Crown is found on insignia of staff sergeant, all superintendent ranks and all commanding officer ranks. The same rank insignia are also used by the York Regional Police. RankCommanding officersSenior officersPolice officersOfficers in trainingChief of policeDeputy chief of policeStaff superintendentSuperintendentStaff inspectorInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantConstableCadetInsignia (slip-on)Insignia (shoulder board)Shoulder boards not used for these ranks
Ottawa Police Service
RankCommanding officersSenior officersPolice officersChief of policeDeputy chief of policeSuperintendentInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantFirst class constableSecond class constableThird class constableFourth class constableInsignia (slip-on)Insignia (shoulder board)Shoulder boards not used for these ranks
Peel Regional Police
RankCommanding officersSenior officersPolice officersRecruitsChief of policeDeputy chief of policeStaff superintendentSuperintendentStaff inspector (not currently in use)InspectorStaff sergeantSergeantSenior police constablePolice constable first classPolice constable second classPolice constable third classPolice constable fourth classPolice cadetInsignia (slip-on)No insigniaInsignia (shoulder board)Shoulder boards not used for these ranks
RankSpecial constablesSpecial constable supervisorSpecial constableInsignia (slip-on)
Kingston Police
RankCommanding officersSenior officersPolice officersChief of policeDeputy chief of policeSuperintendentStaff InspectorInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantSenior police constableConstableInsignia (slip-on)Insignia (shoulder board)Shoulder boards not used for these ranks
Cobourg Police Service
RankCommanding officersSenior officersPolice officersChief of policeDeputy chief of policeInspectorStaff sergeantSergeantConstableInsigniaInsignia (shoulder board)Shoulder boards are not used for these ranks.
Detective sergeant Detective Detective constable
Durham Regional Police Service
Chief of police Deputy chief Chief administrative officer Superintendent Inspector Detective sergeant Staff sergeant Detective Sergeant Detective constable Senior constable Constable - 1st class Constable - 2nd class Constable - 3rd class Constable - 4th class Special court constables
Halton Regional Police Service
Chief of police Deputy chief Superintendent Inspector Staff sergeant / detective sergeant Sergeant / detective Police constable / detective constable
Waterloo Regional Police Service
Chief of police (crown and three maple leaves) Deputy chief (crown and two maple leaves) Superintendent (crown) Inspector (two maple leaves) Staff sergeant (crown and three chevrons) Sergeant (three chevrons) Constable
West Grey Police
Chief of police Inspector Sergeant / Detective Special Constable Constable Auxiliary constable
Prince Edward Island Charlottetown Police Service Chief of police Deputy chief Superintendent Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Constable
Summerside Police Service Chief of police Deputy chief Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporals Constable
Kensington Police Service Chief of police Deputy chief Corporal Constable
Quebec Sûreté du Québec (SQ)
Ranks of Sûreté du QuébecGeneral staff officers Officers Sub-Officers AgentsDirector general of the SQAssociate directorChief inspectorInspectorCaptainLieutenantSergeantTeam leaderConstableNo insignia
Kativik Regional Police Ranks and insignia of the Kativik Regional Police Force are similar to those of . Ranks of Kativik Regional PoliceOfficers Sub-Officers ChiefDeputy ChiefCaptainSergeantConstableNo insignia
Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) Ranks of the : Rank Group Executive Officers Staff Officers Superior Officers Officers Constables SPVM"Insignes et grades." SPVM. Retrieved 2020-04-04. Director Associate Director Chief Inspector Inspector Commander Lieutenant Sergeant Senior Constable Constable
Service de police de la Ville de Laval
Director () Associate director () Assistant director () Chief inspector () Inspector () Lieutenant / detective lieutenant (/) Sergeant / detective sergeant (/) Constable ()
Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ)
Director () Associate director () Lieutenant () Sergeant () Constable ()
Service de Police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) Director () Associate director () Chief inspector () Inspector () Lieutenant / detective lieutenant (/) Group leader () Sergeant / detective sergeant (/) Team leader () Constable with superior function () Constable ()
Saskatchewan Regina Police Service