This is only an example! Take and modify as needed for each unique community: Not every police/ guard force will have the same ranks!
General
There will never be more than one General (Or figure of equal rank) unless otherwise noted. Manages the Guard. They are the face of the guard to the general populace - both socially and politically. Should their men fall short of their duty or if great strife afflicts the people, the General duty is to mediate and mend the problem to the best of their ability. It is the Generals responsibility to be aware of and help police the ranks for problematic subordinates. Individuals of this rank show near perfect discipline, loyalty and understanding of duty and the Guard Code of Ethics. Familiarity with the law is second nature.
Duties of the General: To serve in the defense of the Royalty, their people and their lands through regular patrols of the city and interacting with the citizens. The General is to advise on matters of law to the Royalty and Council. They are to suggest new laws or alterations of current laws as needed in an ever evolving society. The General is tasked with delegating duties and responsibilities to subordinates, from running training classes, approve roster changes and supply requisitions, perform daily patrols and induct new hires to the Gendarme.
The General is to make educated decisions on who to advance in rank based on their own and their subordinates assessments. The General is a representative of Kingdom hierarchy, and as such is to act and conduct themselves as a military diplomat to foreign visitors within the city and an ambassador when visiting foreign soil. Further duties of the General is to participate in Council meetings, meaning any incidents, punishments, individuals or information that input is needed on is to be brought up or assisted with as soon as possible. Further, they are to help run and participate in training classes and drills of all levels.
The General is obligated to carry out sentencing for minor to medium offenses, or, in the case of difficult cases, alert the Council of the pressing nature of the incident. The General is to likewise approve the loss of pay, demotion or discharge (Honorable or Dishonorable) of guards whose behavior and performance is deemed lacking or request to end their tenure.
The General is to write reports, or delegate and follow up that reports are written, on incidents or events as soon as possible, as well as make sure individuals that have or are suspected to have caused problems or broken kingdom law are properly detained.
The General is designated by a laurel and sword pip upon the collar of their uniform.
Sheriff
Secondary command position, the Sheriff is the Generals right hand. In times when the General is incapacitated or absent, the Sheriff will take on the duties and responsibilities of the General as acting official. They answer to the General, Council and Royalty. Sheriffs are guards that show exceedingly great discipline, loyalty and understanding of duty, along with a strong moral fiber. Familiarity with the law is intimate.
Duties of the Sheriff: To serve in the defense of the Royals, their people and their lands through regular patrols of the city and interacting with the citizens. To exemplify the Guards code of Ethics. The Sheriff is tasked with running and assisting advanced drills and training exercises for the guard. They are to help make assessments on guards deemed prepared for rank advancement.
Further duties of the Sheriff is to keep up to date on all incidents, paperwork and needs of the soldiers beneath their command, and assist the General by communicating any issues at hand. Creation of supply and equipment requisitions is a major task of the Sheriff, as is the duty of keeping the guard roster up to date. The Sheriff is in charge of rotating tasks to ensure soldiers are not overdrawn, to approve time off and to meet out interpersonal punishments such as but not limited to loss of pay, demotion or discharge should a soldiers behavior or performance be deemed lacking. Acts as a military diplomat to foreign visitors within the city and an ambassador when visiting foreign soil.
The Sheriff is to write reports on incidents or events as soon as possible, as well as detain individuals that have or are suspected to have caused problems or broken Kingdom Law. The Sheriff is to deliver punishment for minor and moderate incidents should the General be unavailable, or, in the case of difficult cases, alert the General of the pressing nature of the incident.
The Sheriff is designated by a purple star and crossed swords pips upon the the collar of their uniform.
Captain
The rank of Captain is given to individuals who are deemed devout in discipline, loyalty, their duty and exemplify the Gendarme code of Ethics clearly. Familiarity with the law is intimate. This is the second of the command ranks.
Duties of a Captain: To serve in the defense of the Royals, their people and their lands through regular patrols of the city and interacting with the citizens.
Captains are tasked with assisting with running Advanced training classes as assistants to the Sheriff. They are considered masters of their chosen proficiency, and therefore are duty bound to instruct others in said tasks. All Captains are unit leaders.
Because they embody the Guard Code of Ethics so well, Captains are tasked with the additional duty of 'Councilor' or 'Confidant' within the ranks. Should soldiers need counseling or assistance in diffusing an issue or just need someone to speak with, a Captain is the ear to bend. Should an issue require greater tact or aid, they are to reach out to the Sheriff or General for assistance.
Captains are to write reports on incidents or events as soon as possible, as well as detain individuals that have or are suspected to have caused problems or broken Kingdom Law. They are to work hand in hand with the Sheriff by suggesting duty rosters, patrol rotations, offer suggestions on who to promote, demote or relieve of duty, as well as establish supply necessities of the guard. They are to suggest punitive measures on incidents, but do not carry them out unless given directive by the Sheriff or General.
The rank of Captain is to be designated by 3 purple star pips on the uniforms collar.
Lieutenant
Lieutenant's are guards that show superior discipline, loyalty and an exemplary understanding of their duties and the Guard code of Ethics. This is the first of the true command ranks, and in the absence of others, a lieutenants orders are to be followed without question.
Duties of a Lieutenant: To serve in the defense of the Royals, their people and their lands through regular patrols of the city and interacting with the citizens. Lieutenants are tasked with the running of basic training classes and preparing curriculum's that are to be approved by the Captains and Sheriff. Lieutenants are likewise to keep an eye out for individuals of lower ranks that are prepared for rank advancement and report these individuals to the Captains for further inquiry.
Lieutenants are to participate in training to continue their own education on how to properly conduct themselves, especially if looking to take on a leadership role. Lieutenants of high merit are considered Squad leaders, to be designated by a marker upon their uniform at all times. Further duties of a Lieutenant are to serve minor sentences to prisoners in the absence of higher ranked officers, write up requisition orders for approval of superiors, keep up to date on book keeping, reports, and other clerical duties.
A Lieutenant is to write reports on incidents or events as soon as possible, as well as detain individuals that have or are suspected to have caused problems or broken Kingdom Law.
There are two subdivisions of the Lieutenant rank - First and Second, which will be designated by purple star pips upon the collar of the uniform. 2 pips for First Lieutenant, 1 for Second Lieutenant.
Sergeant
Tertiary level guard position. Sergeants are low tier officers and as such are deemed capable of giving orders to subordinates as they have been groomed for a command role. Not all Sergeants are considered command material, however, meaning some may be promoted to this rank due to diligent work ethic and loyalty to the Royalty and Kingdom. Sergeants are appointed a superior officer to shadow for further assistance in command education if the individual is deemed prepared.
Duties of a Sergeant: To serve in the defense of the Royals, their people and their lands through regular patrols of the city and interacting with the citizens. To exemplify the Guard Code of Ethics. A guard is as much a student to their superiors as a teacher to their subordinates. It is the job of a Sergeant to guide those of lower ranks and to be an example of proper etiquette and conduct.
Sergeants are assistants to Lieutenants during basic training classes. Sergeants are considered advanced journeymen in their chosen proficiency. A Sergeant is to write reports on incidents or events as soon as possible, as well as detain individuals that have or are suspected to have caused problems or broken Kingdom Law. Further duties of a Sergeant are to assist in minor clerical duties, tend to prisoners (Bringing food, clean clothing, medicinal aid, etc.), and any other obligations given by ones superior officers.
Sergeants are designated by two silver bars upon their uniform collar.
Corporal
Secondary level guard position. All individuals of this rank have passed their initiation period, have sworn into service but are deemed as needing further education in some area as decided by superior officers. A Corporal is seen as an assistant to a Sergeant, and as such, is appointed a Sergeant (Or other superior officer in lack of a Sergeant) to shadow if they are being groomed for potential command roles. A Corporal is the second most common military position to fill the Guard ranks.
Duties of a Corporal: To serve in the defense of the Royals, their people and their lands through regular patrols of the city and interacting with the citizens. To exemplify the Guard Code of Ethics. A Corporal is as much a student to their superiors as a teacher to their subordinates. It is the job of a Corporal to begin to learn how to guide others. Further duties of a Corporal are tending to equipment, the cleaning of cells and tending to prisoners (bringing food, clean clothing, medicinal aid, etc.), and any other obligations given by ones superior officer.
A Corporal is to report regularly to any superior with information, problems, inquiries or assistance. A Corporal is to write reports on incidents or events as soon as possible, as well as detain individuals that have or are suspected to have caused problems or broken Kingdom Law.
Corporal's are designated by a single silver bar upon their uniform collar.
Private (Initiates)
Entry level guard position. Privates have tested into the ranks but are on six month temporary assignment until they are deemed fully competent, both by superior officers and themselves, to handle the duties and responsibilities of the uniform. A Private is the most common position to fill the Gendarme ranks.
Duties of a Private: To serve in the defense of the Royals, their people and their lands through regular patrols of the city and interacting with the citizens. To exemplify the Guard Code of Ethics. They are to learn and to help one another learn, to be as much a student to their superiors as to be a teacher to their fellows.
During their six month tenure, a Private is to designate a proficiency to thereby assist in possible future placement. For example, if the entry level guard shows proficiency in ranged combat, they will most likely be place within a ranged unit for further training.
A Private is to report regularly to any superior officer with information, problems, inquiries or assistance. A Private is to write reports on incidents or events as soon as possible, as well as detain individuals that have or are suspected to have caused problems or broken Kingdom Law. Other tasks will include tending to uniforms, equipment and guard mounts, upkeep of barrack living quarters, and any other obligations given by ones superior officer.
The rank of Private is a temporary assignment for six months to gauge competency. At the end of their six month tenure, they can leave the guard with no consequence or swear in full into the guard.
An initiate can not resign from their post before the six month trial is complete. Should an initiate abandon their duty, they will be permanently barred from future entry into the Guard. A superior officer may relieve and discharge (With approval from General) an initiate from duty if their actions or performance are deemed poor quality and damaging to the institution of Guard.
Privates are designated by a blank uniform collar.
Consultants
Specialty units that offer additional support to the Guard above and beyond traditional military duties. They are required to wear a sash of purple when performing official consultation duties for the Guard. Purple is a color representative of wisdom, creativity, spirituality and devotion, traits that benefit anyone offering advice or insight into different subjects. If it is felt that a Consultant is overstepping their bounds, the matter must be brought to the attention of the Sheriff and General immediately. If a Consultant has a double duty, I.e., consults for two different departments, they will receive pay from the duty they performed most in that pay cycle, not receive double pay.
Detectives
Detectives are on call personnel. They hold no official rank within the Guard but are treated as Captains when performing duties of investigation into cases.
Liaisons
Individuals assigned by the General to help assist with interdepartmental coordination and communication, be it with visiting dignitaries, Councilors, merchants, or the Royalty. They hold no official rank in the Guard but are treated as Sergeants.
Clergy
Members of the clergy are on call advisors from a cities religious sect. Their duties are to offer spiritual guidance to those that request it, as well as offer insight on cases with religious or cult undertones. They are treated as Sergeants.
Moderators: Jenn