Master Police Officer Definition

Master Police Officer, a rank used by some police departments across the United States. Typically, an "MPO" is a police officer who has at least eight-to-ten years on the job and has served within a variety of units (Patrol, Field Training, SWAT, Undercover Narcotics, or Detectives). Most departments require that the individual be a fully trained police officer who is trained to a greatly higher level than regular police officers and serve as a mentor to less experienced officers. In terms of where the rank of Master Police Officer falls on the spectrum of typical departmental ranking systems, it is generally NOT a civil service supervisory rank, however it is regarded as the highest rank attainable by a street/patrol officer (higher than an officer/deputy/trooper), equivalent in many ways to the rank of Corporal, Although an MPO may be authorized by his department to assume command at the scene of an event until the arrival of a higher ranking supervisor, unlike a Corporal or Sergeant an MPO is typically not in a supervisory position in charge of a group of officers.