Question for Americans

I could give you some vague answers, but your best bet would be to wander over to a nifty site I use all the time to ask this instead. The RealPolice.net forums have a room called "Ask A Cop" where only certified LEO (law enforcement officers) are allowed to answer questions. I'll bet they'll be able to answer anything you want to know, and they're HAPPY to answer "stupid author questions." I know, because I've asked plenty myself. Heh...

Oh, and you might read the sticky threads first. It may well have already been answered, which saves lots of time.

We do elect county sherrifs, but I'm not sure about police, since I don't live in a city. My guess would be that it's the same, though. And yes, they can serve more than one term.

As far as your hypothetical: I hope not, but I'm sure it happens.

The FBI are called in if it's a case that crosses state lines. If it's within a state's borders, it's covered by that state's SBI. But the SBI can request help from the FBI if they wish.

Paula Boon said:

... about city police commissioners (or whatever the highest-ranking police are called).

Am I correct that they are elected in the U.S.? If so, can they serve more than one consecutive term?

Also, would it be plausible for such a person who's seeking re-election to pressure his/her employees to solve a crime as quickly as possible before the "feds" get sent in (to show what an awesome police force it is under their direction)?

What exactly determines whether FBI etc. get put on a case?

Thanks for your help.

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Usually the police commissioner is a civilian appointed by the mayor of the city, with a title like head of public safety. It can be another elected official, such as a city supervisor in a mayor/ council form of government, who is assigned that responsibility.

The office of police Commissioner may be an elected position in some cities, though I'm not aware of any.

It is absolutely plausible for either type to apply pressure -- that's more than theoretical.

The feds handle violations of of federal statutes, like bank robbery (because bank deposits are insured by the federal gov't.) as opposed to state or city laws. They can also get involved with a crime that covers more than one jurisdiction -- like wire fraud between states.

There are also some catch alls. Murder is not a federal crime, but depriving another of their life can come under the umbrella of depriving them of their civil liberties (by taking their life) If the local department is botching a case, or is corrupt, the feds will sometimes intervene.

In order to establish if it's plausible, you'd have to frame your question specifically.

City police commissioners are usually not elected in the US. Except in very large cities, the highest police executive is usually the Chief, not a commissioner.
The highest executive over county police departments is usually a sheriff, which is usually elected. Yes, political pressure can inlfuence the attention a case receives, whether or not that police agencies CEO is elected. Feds can get involved when Federal statutes may have been violated. However, the FBI is not always the Federal police agency involved. There are about 10 Federal police agencies, depending on how you count.

Hi from Houston. We elect our Police Chief and we elect our District Attorney. We have had many colorful events occur right around elections for both positions over the 30 years I've lived here. Right now we are in the midst of a delightfully embarrassing revelation about our sitting DA on the heels of our entire Forensics lab being closed by the feds for multiple malfunctions. So wrapping up a case in a hurry to be re-elected is probable par for the course.

Speaking from a city of 8,000:
Our city police commisioner is hired, or more precisely, contracted. (We had one that was hired and fired from several departments--kept negotiating 7-figure severence pays for early contract termination and then doing the same thing to the next town that contracted him). County sheriffs are elected. Impending elections (or contract renewal deadlines) are not uncommon reasons for the Commish/Sheriff to put pressure to solve a case.

Why the Feds would get involved: the locals don't have the experience or resources to deal with the particulars of a case (especially high-tech evidence processing); some part of the crime ( a "person of interest" or a resemblence to other crimes) was already being investigated by the Feds; multiple juristictions are involved (especially of they're in different states); officers on the investigating force may be involved (conflict of interest), though more likely a neighboring county or the state police would send officers in that case.

My bro is police chief of a high profile US city, the kind of place associated with movie stars and people with loadsa cash. He was hired by the city manager, not elected.
But if yours is elected, as it sounds like might be possible, the whole pressue issue you raise is more than possible. Just like any elected official, the best way to please the electorate and keep your job is to crack down on crime. And the feds and city police do share some jurisdictions, the most likey being robbery and drugs.

Yep. City managers are a big thing here. They are hired by the city council, right? Then they manage all the workings of the city. They are kind of like CEOs only for citys and they get traded around a lot.

Large East Coast cities have Police Commissioners, who are appointed by the mayor or city council. Here in Boston, for instance, our commissioner is Edward Davis: he was formerly the police chief in Lowell, Massachusetts, an old mill town that's now a center for immigration and home to a mostly working-class population.

The previous Police Commissioner here in Boston was Kathleen O'Toole, who's now the Inspector General of the Garda in Ireland.

Our Police Commissioners have, at least as long as I remember, been police officers themselves. I know that in some cities, the Police Commissioners aren't police officers, but people from other areas of the law enforcement and government (former District Attorneys, former city councilors, etc.)

In smaller East Coast cities, the highest police official is the Chief of Police. Again, this is an appointed/hired role in the Northeast; in parts of the South and West, it can be an elected role.

Because this varies by state, you'll have to think of which area of the US your hypothetical city is meant to be located in.

IceCreamEmpress said:

Because this varies by state, you'll have to think of which area of the US your hypothetical city is meant to be located in.

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Just highlighting this because it's important. It varies widely, not only by state, but also by city.