<P> A chief of police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America . A chief of police may also be known as a police chief or sometimes just a chief, while some countries favour other titles such as commissioner or chief constable . A police chief is appointed by and answerable to a national or local government, with the main exception being elected sheriffs in the United States . </P> <P> The precise role a chief of police has varies by country and sometimes within a country . The larger a police force or department, the more likely that some duties will be delegated to mid-ranked officers . The following list is a general sense of the actions and responsibilities held by any chief of police . </P>

Who does the chief of police answer to