FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank.
   For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog.
   For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide.

How to Address a Chief of Police?
    I am addressing a letter and an envelope to both the Police Chief of the city (not elected). How would I go about doing this correctly?
          -- Mickie Andrews

Dear Mickie Andrews:
     Nearly always police officers hold a military style rank ... so "The Chief" may actually be:
            Captain Mickie Andrews
           Arlington County Chief of Police
    And the salutation would be to him or her by rank:
            Dear Captain Andrews:
    But in some places the 'chief of police' is not from the uniformed ranks. For example in New York City the 'chief' of police does not hold a military style rank ... and is a 'commissioner' .... so he is
            Mr. Raymond Kelly
            Police Commissioner
    And the salutation would be to:
            Dear Commissioner Kelly:
    Commissioners typically use Commissioner as their honorific.
    So you will need to call the police department ... or perhaps the secretary in the chief's office to be certain ...
      -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Detective? 
        I need to write a thank you note to Detective Lieutenant William A. Barerra. Does the name or the title go first on the letter and envelope?  Is it:
                William A. Barerra, Detective Lieutenant ?
        or
                Detective Lieutenant William A. Barerra ?
        -- Patty in Stony Point, New York

Dear Patty:
        Detectives (the investigative members of police departments) have ranks just like the military:
                Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain .... etc.
        So a detective is a lieutenant, but not a detective lieutenant.
         .... so on a letter would be
                Lieutenant William A. Barerra
                Stony Point Police Department
                XXXXX, Stony Point, NY
        In conversation all the ranks of detective can be addressed as "Detective (Name)"
         -- Robert Hickey

Can I Use My Police Rank in Retirement
as a Public Safety Consultant and Trainer?
       I read about on your site how retired military officers can use, and cannot use, their ranks in retirement. I am a retired police lieutenant from a municipal police agency, and I am offering my services as a public safety consultant and trainer.  I am eligible to use my police rank because I retired honorably after 21 years of service.  Please tell me what form or arrangement of my name and title would be most appropriate on a calling card?  I feel almost silly using the title, but it does lend credibility to my opinions, findings, and methods.  If anyone can settle this for me, I believe that you can.
       -- Lieutenant Ben Baldwin, SDPS, Retired

Dear Lieutenant Baldwin,
       If the business card is for you as a consultant & trainer in public safety and using your former rank lends credibility to your opinions, findings and methods .... including your rank would be exactly what the Department of Defense (DOD) prohibits.
       The DOD is clear in its regulations that use of ranks (identifying oneself by his or her former rank) by retired personnel is restricted to social use, and that ranks are not for use in subsequent professional endeavors. 
       While the DOD has it in writing ... the concept applies elsewhere:       
       * A former/retired Judge is socially addressed as Judge (Name).  He'd issue a wedding invitation for his daughter as Judge (Name) since it social and no one would think that somehow the wedding is any sort of an official event.
    But if he now works as a lobbyist in Washington for some industry, or as an attorney pleading cases in court ... professionally he becomes Mr. (Name).  His professional bio would include his former position, but not his card.  While everyone would know of  ... and value his experience ... his professional stationery reflects his current professional role.
       * A former/retired US ambassador is socially addressed as Ambassador (Name), but if he runs for political office he becomes Mr. (Name) ... although his bio would include his former diplomatic service. 
       E.g. his bio might read:
              ... Mr. (Name) served as the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium from 1990-1998...
       Or in your case it could be:
              ... Mr. Baldwin served for 21 years in municipal law enforcement achieving the rank of Lieutenant...
                     -- Robert Hickey

Back to directory of titles  /  See who is using Honor & Respect

For forms of address for invitations, place cards, name badges, introductions, conversation, and all other formal uses, see Honor & Respect: the Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Hickey.     All Rights Reserved.
Photo: Marc Goodman.