POLICE AND ARMY OFFICERS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28619, 23 June 1958, Page 7

POLICE AND ARMY OFFICERS

Equal Rank For Pensions “The Press' 1 Special Service .AUCKLAND, June 22. A major-general and the new Commissioner of Police (Mr W. S. Brown) now hold equal rank for Government pension purposes. A new amendment to the Police Force Regulations gives the following equivalent ranks.:— Police Force Army Asst-Cssnr Brigadier Chief Supt Colonel Superintendent Lt-Colonel Chief inspector and all other \ ranks below Major Protocol is not involved, however, and there is no question of an Army captain at a civic reception being required to salute the constable on duty at the door

The Gazette states that the equivalent ranks have been drawn up to determine pensions payable when members of the police force are killed or disabled on duty.

“Equivalent ranks” were first gazetted in 1922, when a constable was graded as a private and became a corporal after nine years’ service. A police sergeant at this time was deemed the equal of a regimental sergeant-major. A senior sergeant was regarded as a lieutenant and a sub-inspector as a captain. The rank of sub-inspector has now been abolished and new ranks—these of chief superintendent and chief inspector—created.