Data sources: CJ US JOBS, January 25, 2021, FBI UCR/LEOKA database for 2019 and Wikipedia. This ranking is based upon number of sworn officers as of 2019 and includes agencies at the state, county and city level.
New York City Police Department - NYPD
NYPD is the largest and oldest police department in the US with over 36,000 police officers and 19,000 civilian employees, The agency was established back in 1845 when the population of the city was approximately 400,000. Today, NYPD protects a population of 8.5 million people.
The NYPD structure consists of different bureaus, each headed by a chief or deputy commissioner who makes sure that bureaus are performing their functions fully.
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2. Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is the law enforcement agency of the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the City Council. It is the second-largest municipal police department in the United States, behind the New York City Police Department. It has approximately 13,000 officers and over 1,925 other employees. Tracing its roots back to the year of 1835, the Chicago Police Department is one of the oldest modern police forces in the world.
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3. Los Angeles Police Department - LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department is California's largest police department, with approximately 10,200 sworn officers and 3,000 civilian employees. The city has a population of 4 million people that means for every 433 residents, there is only one officer, which is comparatively lower than the other departments. The department is committed to serving the community while protecting their rights. The LAPD vision is to see the city free of crimes and fear as their motto says, "To Protect and to Serve,"
The organization of the department is complex, including 21 divisions (stations) grouped in four bureaus in the Office of Operations; multiple divisions within the Detective Bureau in the Office of Special Operations; and specialized units such as SWAT, K-9, mounted police, air support and the Major Crimes Division all within the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. Further offices support the chief of police in areas such as constitutional policing and professional standards, while the Office of Support Services covers facilities management, personnel and training, among other areas.
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4. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - LASD
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is United States' largest sheriff's department with 18,000 employees and over 9,600 sworn deputies. It includes 23 Patrol Stations in different parts of California, providing patrol services for 153 unincorporated communities. The department covers 4,084 square miles with a population of 10.04 million people. LASD offers services to 42 contract cities, 141 unincorporated communities, 216 facilities, hospitals, and clinics located throughout the County. The department also provides training courses to other small law enforcement agencies.
Prepare for the LASD Police Written Test
5. California Highway Patrol - CHP
The California Highway Patrol is the largest state police agency in the United States, with 11,000 employees, over 7,600 of whom are sworn officers, according to a recent study in December 2019. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and are also known as the state police. They also have jurisdiction over city roads, and have the right to conduct law enforcement procedures there. In addition to its highway patrol duties, the CHP also provides other services including protecting state buildings and facilities (most notably the California State Capitol) and guarding state officials. The CHP also works with municipal and federal law enforcement agencies, providing assistance in investigations, patrol and other aspects of law enforcement.
Prepare for the CHP Police Written Test
6. Philadelphia Police Department - PIPD
The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) is the nation's sixth largest police department, with over 6500 sworn members and 800 civilian personnel. The PPD is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for serving Philadelphia County, extending over 140 square-miles in which approximately 1.5 million reside.
Geographically, the Department is divided into twenty-one police districts (each headed by a captain), which comprise six police divisions (Northwest, Northeast, East, Central, Southwest, South - each headed by a Divisional Inspector), into two major sections of the city, Regional Operations Command North (ROC North) and Regional Operations Command South (ROC South), each headed by one Chief Inspector under Patrol Operations. Personnel are assigned to work in 55 different locations throughout Philadelphia, with Police Headquarters located in the 6th Police District, in Center City, at 750 Race Street.
Prepare for the Philadelphia Police Written Test
7. Houston Police Department - HPD
Houston, Texas is the fourth largest city in the US. HPD is headed by the chief of police, who is appointed by the Mayor of Houston. The department has 5,400 sworn law enforcement officers and 892 civilian support personnel that serve the region of 671 square miles with 2.31 million residents.
The department's mission is to enhance the quality of life for Houston citizens by working hand in hand with the public, encouraging community programs, and providing a safe environment.
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8. New York State Police - NYSP
Formed in 1917, New York State police are the official state police of New York whose mission is to serve, protect, and defend the people while preserving all rights. The police department of New York has over 5,000 sworn state officers and 711 civilian members. The State Department is not only eliminating crimes but also provide safety in critical situations.
The department's four more essential missions are; highway safety, professional police service to people, preventing terrorism, and preparing for emergencies. To fulfill this mission, the department provides all the law enforcement services across the state, such as patrols, assisting citizens, conducting investigations, providing emergency services.
Besides this, the department is also responsible for traffic control, answering 911 calls and helping the public, and controlling narcotics and terrorism.
Prepare for the NYS Police Written Test
9. Pennsylvania State Police - PSP
Pennsylvania state police were created in 1905, it was the first uniformed police in the US, and today it is one of the top-ranked police departments with 4,719 sworn members and 1,850 civilians. The state police are led by a Commissioner who makes sure that the department is performing all its obligations. The State police's vision is to keep communities safe and gain their trust by practicing new strategies, building a connection with the communities, and facilitating all the members with equality.
The police department pays close attention to its core purpose; seek justice, preserve peace, and improve the public's quality of life. The officers are committed to the values of the department that are; honor, service, integrity, respect, duty, and trust. The Pennsylvania state police are responsible for law enforcement duties and maintain and control the traffic and ensure the safety of the residents.
Prepare for the Pennsylvania State Police Written Test
10. Metropolitan Police Department of Washington DC - MPDC
The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC), also known as Metropolitan Police Department MPD and the Washington DC Police, founded in 1861, is now amongst the most extensive local police department in the US. Over 3,800 sworn and civilian members are serving the city, which is divided into seven different districts. The total area on which the departments serves is 68.3 square miles against the population of 0.69 million.
The chief of police leads the MPD under him. Different bureaus are working in various districts to maintain peace and harmony in the state. The department provides additional services to the citizens such as; emergency service, K9, patrol, air support, explosive diffusion, homeland security, criminal intelligence, narcotics, and firearms recovery hence following their mission to safeguard the state of Colombia.
Prepare for the Washington DC Police Written Test
11. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department - LVMPD
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) was formed on July 1, 1973, by merging the Las Vegas Police Department with the Clark County Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff heads the department. The sheriff is the only elected head law enforcement officer within the city and county, and, as such, is not under the direct control of the city, county, federal or state government.
Metro serves the city limits of Las Vegas and the unincorporated areas and towns of Clark County. The department operates the Clark County Detention Center. It is used to house inmates arrested in their patrol area, with the exception of misdemeanors committed in the City of Las Vegas, which maintains its own jail.
2019 data shows that there were over 3,200 sworn officers on the force plus over 900 corrections officers.
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12. Dallas Police Department - DPD
The Dallas Police Department was created in 1881. The department is directed by the chief of police, which ensures that the police department's mission is to reduce crimes and break ethical barriers and protect the right of all. There are a total of eight patrol stations in Dallas to provide high-quality services to the people.
Dallas's total population is 1.33 million on 383 square miles, against which there are 3,640 sworn officers and 556 civilian members who work day and night to make Dallas a peaceful and safe place for the locals. The department provides various services to its people like; providing preventive, investigative, and enforcement services, working hand in hand with the communities to control the crimes, putting effort and gaining the people's trust.
Prepare for the Dallas Police Written Test
13. Miami-Dade County Police Department - MDPD
Miami-Dade, the police department also known as Dade County Sheriff's Office, was formed in 1836 to provide essential police services in the unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County, Miami Lakes, Palmetto Bay, and Cutler Bay. The MDPD has approximately 4,700 employees, making it the largest police department in the southeastern United States. The Department is still often referred by its former name, the Metro-Dade Police or simply Metro.
There are approximately 3000 officers and 1,700 civilian members working in the department makes it amongst the largest law enforcement agencies in the US.
The department is divided into eight districts that provide different services like; patrol services on the airport, seaport, marine, motorcycle, bomb disposal, and SWAT.
Prepare for the Miami-Dade County Police Written Test
14. Phoenix Police Department - PPD
Phoenix police department was formed in 1881. The department is headed by the chief of police. The department has over 3,00 officers and more than 1,000 support personnel who serve 1.63 million people and patrol around the rapidly-growing region of almost 516 square miles.
The PPD is divided into six divisions; Community & Support Services Division, Investigations Division, Patrol Operations South Division, Patrol Operations North Division, Strategic & Tactical Services Division, and Reserve Division. Each division is headed by the assistant chief, who is answerable to the police department's chief.
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15. Suffolk County Police
Prior to 1960, law enforcement in Suffolk County was the responsibility of local towns and villages as well as the New York State Police. From the 17th century until well into the 20th century, many of these jurisdictions employed only part-time constables, who were usually appointed by local communities and paid to enforce court orders.
The New York State Police arrived on Long Island in 1917, and many towns and villages began forming their own small police forces soon thereafter. Following World War II, there was a push to unite the 33 separate law enforcement agencies then operating within Suffolk County.
In 1958, of state decide to create a county police force. The five western towns — Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown and Brookhaven — voted in favor. The five eastern towns — Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, East Hampton, and Southampton — opted to retain their own police forces, and do so to this day, with the Suffolk County Police Department providing support and specialized services.
Today, there are approximately 2500 sworn officers in the department.
Prepare for the Suffolk County Police Written Test
16. Detroit Police Department - DPD
Detroit Police Department is a municipal police department responsible for protecting the people of Detroit, Michigan. The department was formed in 1865 and has become one of the largest police departments in the USA, with over 2,500 officers who are continually patrolling approximately 139 square miles with 674,841 citizens.
The senior position of leadership is the Police Chief who is appointed by the Detroit Mayor and a board of police commissioners that reports to the Mayor.
The Detroit Police Department has one of the largest percentages of black officers of any major city police department, reflecting current overall city demographics.
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17. Baltimore Police Department - BPD
Baltimore Police Department provides law enforcement services in Baltimore, Maryland. The department is sometimes referred to as the Baltimore City Police Department to distinguish it from the Baltimore County Police Department. There are 2,500 sworn officers who serve the population of 614,000 people and patrol around the area of approximately 90 square miles to serve the Baltimore Police Department's mission. The mission is to enforce the law in a fair, impartial, and ethical manner without harming the United States' constitution.
Prepare for the Baltimore Police Written Test
18. Nassau County Police
In 1925, concerned about rising crime rates, the County Board of Supervisors voted to create the Nassau County Police Department, replacing a scattered system of constables and town and village police departments. In the early 1970s, with the increasing crime and civil disorder in neighboring New York City, the number of sworn officers reached a peak of nearly 4,200.
Today, the department has approximately 2,400 sworn officers, making it still one of the largest county police agencies in the United States. The population of Nassau County is 1.4M.
Prepare for the Nassau County Police Written Test
19. San Antonio Police Department
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of San Antonio, Texas, and some surrounding areas. The jurisdiction includes a population of 1.3M and covers over 460 square miles. The police chief is appointed by the City Manager. There are approximately 2,300 sworn officers in the department.
Prepare for the San Antonio Police Written Test
20. San Francisco Police Department - SFPD
The San Francisco police department was formed in 1849. Don't get confused with the San Francisco Sheriff's Department which is different from the San Francisco Police Department. The department is led by the police chief, who is responsible for making all the significant decisions.
SFPD serves a population of 1.2 million people with 2,300 sworn officers.