Talk:NYPD Uniforms and Ranks/@comment-25955172-20150102041526/@comment-184.7.61.56-20150409060653

iirc Chiefs make their way up through the ranks as you'd expect, and Commissoners are appointed. Commissioners are more common in the east US, and Chiefs in the west, but some places like NYC have both. It just helps keep things organized, i think. Chiefs are more involved with the department, and commissioners are closer to the mayor's ear.