156 articles
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC), provincial police service of Newfoundland and Labrador, one of North America's oldest forces with roots in 1729; formally established 1871, granted Royal title 1979, serves about 257,000 people.
Royal Thai Police (สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ)
Royal Thai Police (สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ) is Thailand's national police force, governed by the Royal Thai Police Act B.E. 2547, with 1,451 stations, Metropolitan and Provincial commands, and Pol.Gen. Samran Nualma as 16th chief (2026).
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), police force of Northern Ireland from 1 June 1922 until it became the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 4 November 2001; 312 officers killed, awarded the George Cross in 2000.
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) is San Francisco's municipal police force, founded in 1849 during the Gold Rush, operating ten district stations under a Chief of Police, overseen by a seven-member Police Commission and the Department of Police Accountability.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल)
SVPNPA (सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल राष्ट्रीय पुलिस अकादमी), founded 1948 at Mount Abu and moved to Hyderabad in 1975, is India's premier training academy for Indian Police Service officers, running the 49-week IPS Basic Course, induction and mid-career training.
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard, the metonym for New Scotland Yard, is the headquarters of London's Metropolitan Police, founded 1829 at Great Scotland Yard; moves 1890, 1967, 2016; current site is Curtis Green, Victoria Embankment.
Search Bloc
Search Bloc (Bloque de Búsqueda) was a Colombian National Police unit created to hunt Pablo Escobar and the Medellín cartel leadership. Distinguished by U.S. support (DEA, Centra Spike, Delta Force), heavy officer casualties from Escobar's bounty, and killing Escobar in Medellín on 2 December 1993.
Seattle Police Department
Seattle Police Department (SPD), municipal police force of Seattle, Washington, largest municipal law enforcement agency in the state; operated under a 2012-2025 federal consent decree for use-of-force reforms, overseen by OPA, OIG, and CPC civilian accountability bodies, with five precincts and high chief turnover.
Security police
Security police: police bodies protecting the state, its institutions, and officials rather than ordinary crime policing; includes the Nazi Sicherheitspolizei (SiPo), military police, and protective services, with oversight by parliamentary, independent, and civilian bodies.
Sheriff
Sheriff: elected chief law enforcement officer of a US county, from the English shire-reeve. Duties span patrol, jail administration, court security, and civil process; about 98 percent are elected.
Sheriffs in the United States
Sheriffs in the United States: elected county chief law-enforcement officers, about 2,900 offices employing 174,000 sworn officers with $44 billion combined budgets; absent only in Alaska, Hawaii, and Connecticut.
Shinsengumi (新選組)
The Shinsengumi (新選組) was a pro-shogunate corps of masterless samurai, led by Kondō Isami and Hijikata Toshizō, that policed Kyoto from 1863 until its surrender at Benten Daiba in 1869.
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force (Polis Repablik Singapura) is Singapore's national police agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, established in 1820 and numbering about 15,000 officers.
South African Police Service
South African Police Service (SAPS), South Africa's national police force under section 205 of the Constitution and the SAPS Act 1995; formed 1995 from eleven agencies; R120.89 billion 2025/26 budget; led by a President-appointed National Commissioner.
Special Branch
Special Branch: police intelligence units, originating in London's Metropolitan Police in 1883 to counter Irish republican terrorism, later spread across the Commonwealth; Met unit ended 2006.
Special police
Special police covers volunteer constables (UK Special Constabulary, est. 1831, full powers), privately commissioned DC Special Police Officers, UN specialized police teams of 2 to 15 seconded experts, quasi-military state forces, and domain-specific national forces.
Specialist Firearms Command
Specialist Firearms Command (MO19, formerly SO19, CO19, SCO19) is the Metropolitan Police's firearms unit, providing armed response, ARVs, SFO and CTSFO teams for unarmed London policing.
State bureau of investigation
State bureau of investigation (SBI): state-level criminal investigative agency, also called Bureau of Criminal Investigation or Division of Criminal Investigation; about 40 states have one, separate from the highway patrol, running investigations, crime labs, and task forces without FBI oversight.
State police
State police are government agencies enforcing laws throughout an entire state, distinct from city or county police; the first U.S. agency was formed in Massachusetts in 1865.
State police (United States)
State police (United States): statewide law enforcement agencies with general jurisdiction; first was the Pennsylvania State Police (1905), model for 49 states, distinct from highway patrols and sheriffs.
Sub-inspector
Sub-inspector (SI), a mid-level police rank in South and Southeast Asian forces, between inspector and assistant sub-inspector in India and Bangladesh and the top rank-and-file rank in Malaysia; recruited via state exams with physical tests.
Superintendent of police (India)
Superintendent of Police (SP), head of the district police force in most Indian states, typically an IPS officer. Commands law and order, crime prevention and investigation in a police district under the dual system with the District Magistrate, created by the 1861 Police Act.
SWAT
SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams are police tactical units, originating with the LAPD after the 1965 Watts riots, trained in military-style tactics for barricades, hostages, and warrant service; distinct from ordinary patrol units.
Tamil Nadu Police (தமிழ்நாடு காவல் துறை)
Tamil Nadu Police (தமிழ்நாடு காவல் துறை), the state law-enforcement force headed by a DGP under the 2013 Reforms Act; led since June 2026 by Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal; 5.40 lakh cases registered in 2023.
Texas Ranger Division
Texas Ranger Division, the criminal investigative branch of the Texas Department of Public Safety since 1935; founded 1823, 305 authorized positions, six companies, statewide jurisdiction, led by Chief Jason Bobo from 2026.
Toronto Police Service
Toronto Police Service (TPS), municipal police force of Toronto, Ontario, founded 1834; formerly Metropolitan Toronto Police (1957) and renamed after 1998 amalgamation; governed by the Toronto Police Services Board with a $1.43 billion 2026 budget and 8,419 positions.
United States Border Patrol
United States Border Patrol (USBP), founded May 28, 1924 under the Labor Appropriation Act, is the federal agency securing U.S. borders between ports of entry, now within CBP/DHS, with about 20,000 agents, checkpoint and 25-mile-zone authorities, and BORTAC/BORSTAR units.
United States Capitol Police
The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is the federal police force of Congress, founded by the May 2, 1828 Act expanding Washington, D.C. police regulations to the Capitol. Over 2,300 personnel protect members, staff, visitors, and the Capitol complex under the Capitol Police Board, with nationwide protective authority for members of Congress.
United States Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), also called the border agency of DHS, is the largest U.S. federal law enforcement agency, created March 1, 2003 from the Customs Service, Border Patrol, INS, and APHIS elements, with 60,000+ staff at 328 ports of entry.
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is the DOJ bureau, descended from the 1789 Judiciary Act, that enforces federal court orders, runs fugitive task forces, safeguards judges and witnesses, and manages federal prisoners.