Roleplay Ranks and Department Structure Guide

A well-structured department hierarchy is essential for organized roleplay. It establishes chain of command, defines responsibilities, and creates a promotion pathway that motivates members. This guide covers standard rank structures for all major departments and how to configure them in CDE CAD.

Police Department Ranks

Commissioner / Chief of Police

The highest-ranking officer in the department. Responsible for overall department operations, policy, and community relations. Reports to the server owner or community leadership.

Assistant Chief / Deputy Chief

Second in command. Oversees daily department operations and supervises division commanders. Acts as chief in their absence.

Captain

Commands a division or bureau within the department. Responsible for resource allocation, strategic planning, and division-level policy implementation.

Lieutenant

Supervises a watch or unit. Responsible for shift operations, personnel management, and ensuring officers follow department SOPs.

Sergeant

First-line supervisor. Directly supervises patrol officers, reviews reports, handles field decisions, and serves as the primary point of contact between officers and command staff.

Corporal

A senior officer rank that may supervise small teams or serve as a field training officer. Often the first promotional rank above officer.

Officer / Deputy

The standard patrol rank. Handles calls for service, conducts patrols, writes reports, and enforces the law. The majority of department personnel hold this rank.

Cadet / Probationary Officer

Entry-level rank for new members. Cadets are in training and have limited authority. They work under direct supervision of a field training officer.

EMS Department Ranks

EMS Director / Chief

Head of the EMS department. Manages medical protocols, staffing, training programs, and inter-agency coordination.

Assistant Director / Deputy Chief

Assists the director with department management. Often oversees specific divisions like training, quality assurance, or operations.

Captain

Supervises a shift or station. Responsible for crew assignments, equipment readiness, and operational compliance.

Lieutenant

Shift supervisor responsible for crew management and on-scene medical command during multi-unit responses.

Paramedic

ALS-certified provider capable of advanced medical interventions including medication administration, advanced airways, and cardiac monitoring.

EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)

BLS-certified provider who performs basic life support including CPR, wound care, splinting, and patient assessment. Entry-level clinical rank.

Fire Department Ranks

Fire Chief

Highest ranking fire department officer. Responsible for all department operations, budgeting, training standards, and community fire prevention programs.

Deputy Chief / Assistant Chief

Oversees specific divisions such as operations, training, prevention, or administration. Acts as chief in their absence.

Battalion Chief

Commands a battalion (group of stations). Responds as incident commander to significant emergencies and manages field operations.

Captain

Commands a fire station and its apparatus. Responsible for crew training, station maintenance, and serves as company officer on emergency responses.

Engineer / Driver

Certified apparatus operator responsible for driving and operating fire engines, trucks, and other apparatus. Manages pump operations at fire scenes.

Firefighter

Entry-level firefighting rank. Performs fire suppression, rescue operations, equipment maintenance, and station duties under the direction of company officers.

Department Structure Best Practices

Start Simple

Begin with a basic rank structure (3-4 ranks) and add ranks as your community grows. Too many ranks in a small community creates confusion and promotion stagnation.

Clear Role Definitions

Document what each rank is responsible for and what permissions they receive in the CAD. This prevents confusion and conflicts about authority.

Promotion Pathways

Establish clear criteria for promotion including time in rank, activity requirements, training completion, and leadership assessments. Published criteria motivate members.

Span of Control

Each supervisor should manage 3-7 direct reports. If supervisors are overloaded, add intermediate ranks. If supervisors have too few reports, consolidate ranks.

Configuring Ranks in CDE CAD

Department Creation

Create each department in the CAD admin panel with its own configuration, rank structure, and permissions. Each department operates independently within the same CAD instance.

Rank Hierarchy

Define ranks in order from highest to lowest. The CAD uses this hierarchy for permission inheritance and chain of command features.

Permission Assignment

Assign specific permissions to each rank level. Higher ranks inherit permissions from lower ranks and gain additional access to administrative features.

Custom Rank Names

CDE CAD supports fully custom rank names. Use whatever naming convention fits your community - traditional, military-style, or completely custom.