Civil Police Officer

Civil Police Officer (abbreviated CPO) is the lowest rank in the Kerala Police, followed by a Senior Civil Police Officer. A civil police officer in the Kerala Police is equivalent to a police constable in the police forces of other states in India. As compared to other police constables (e.g., armed PCs), the civil police officer is allotted to the Kerala civil police cadre. A civil police officer has no shoulder insignia, while a Senior Civil Police Officer has three stripes or chevrons.

More than half of the force is made up of civil police officers. They work in police stations, traffic police units, and other local police units in Kerala. The nomenclature of Police Constable was changed to Civil Police Officer (CPO) in Kerala Police in 2011 during the tenure of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as the Home Minister of Kerala. The change in nomenclature was part of a broader initiative to modernize and professionalize the police force in Kerala. Civil Police Officers play a crucial role in maintaining law and order in Kerala. They are the backbone of the police force and work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the public.

The Civil Police Officer (CPO) is a rank given to personnel who are recruited as Police Constables. After joining as a CPO, personnel may be promoted to higher ranks, such as Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO), Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI), Sub-Inspector of Police (SI), and beyond, based on their seniority, performance, and educational qualifications.[1][2][3][4]

A civil police officer may serve in any of these branches, including the Local Police (District Police), State Special Branch, Crime Branch, Coastal Police, Headquarters, State Crime Records Bureau, Training Division and others. They serve in other departments on deputation basis, including Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and others.[5]

Civil Police Officer
സിവിൽ പോലീസ് ഓഫീസർ
Service branchKerala Civil Police Cadre
AbbreviationCPO
Rank groupNon-gazetted officers
RankCivil Police Officer
Next higher rankSenior Civil Police Officer (SCPO)
Equivalent ranksPolice Constable

Uniform and insignia

Officers of the rank of Civil Police Officer wear a yellow lanyard on the top of the shirt and a cap with an Ashoka Chakra on dark blue with a yellow ribbon. The baton (Lathi) is the personal weapon of the CPOs.

A senior civil police officer on duty.
A Senior Civil Police Officer on duty.
A civil police officer while on traffic duty.

Recruitment and training

To become a Civil Police Officer in the Kerala Police, candidates must have a minimum educational qualification of 12th standard or equivalent. They must also meet certain physical standards and pass a series of tests, including a written examination, physical fitness test, and medical examination conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission. Candidates who wish to become Civil Police Officers in Kerala Police must have a minimum educational qualification of a higher secondary education (12th grade). They must also meet other physical and medical standards set by the police department.

The recruitment process involves a written examination, physical efficiency test, and medical examination. Successful candidates then undergo training at the Kerala Police Academy, where they are trained in various aspects of policing, such as law, investigation, and physical fitness.

Once recruited, Civil Police Officers undergo training at the Kerala Police Academy, which is located in Thrissur. The training covers various aspects of policing, including criminal law, investigation techniques, public relations, and human rights. The training also includes physical fitness training, weapon handling, and drill exercises.

Career progression

For civil police officers to receive a grade designation as grade senior civil police officers (SCPOs), they must have served for a minimum of 12 years. For SCPOs to receive a grade designation as grade assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), they must have served a minimum of 20 years, and for ASIs to receive a grade designation as grade sub-inspectors, they must have served a minimum of 25 years.

When grade designations are conferred to officials, they would be entitled to receive the salaries of the concerned ranks, but they would serve in those designations only when the vacancies become available.[6]

  • Senior Civil Police Officer (Grade) (after 12yrs of service)
  • Grade Assistant Sub Inspector of Police (GASI) (after 20yrs of service)
  • Grade Sub Inspector of Police (Grade SI) (after 25yrs of service)
  • Sub Inspector of Police (General Executive) (normal promotion, depending on seniority, vacancy, department test, etc)

References
  1. "Kerala: Government relaxes grade norms for police officers". The Times of India. 2019-10-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  2. "Police promotion tests in Kerala go online to ensure transparency". The Times of India. 2021-09-07. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  3. "Row over illegal promotion of 15 cops; govt, police association on the defensive". English.Mathrubhumi. 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  4. Daily, Keralakaumudi. "1380 vacancies in police, but CPO rank list still not published, candidates concerned". Keralakaumudi Daily. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  5. "Police promotion tests in Kerala go online to ensure transparency". The Times of India. 2021-09-07. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  6. "Kerala: Government relaxes grade norms for police officers". The Times of India. 2019-10-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
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