The table of ranks, introduced by Peter I in 1722, provided for the replacement of the aristocratic hierarchy, based on the transfer of ranks and power by inheritance, with a bureaucratic one. Thus, the "Law on the procedure for civil service in the Russian Empire" was approved, which described positions and ranks, defining them according to seniority and sequence of ranks.
The report card took into account all ranks, military, civil and courtiers, and their correspondences with each other. Military ranks were higher than others. So 14 ranks (class ranks) were established, in three types - army, state and courtiers. The first class was considered the highest.
Police positions in the Table of Ranks
In the Russian Empire, police ranks were equated with civilian ranks. Therefore, the rank was retained by the owner in the event of a change in his place of service. But, unlike most civil servants, instead of insignia on buttonholes, police officers wore shoulder straps. Police shoulder straps were similar to army shoulder straps, but were ¾ smaller in width. Considering the fact that the army rank was placed above all others, when moving to serve in the police, the owner retained his army rank and the right to wear army-style shoulder straps.
Who is the policeman
Like the officers' ranks, the lower ranks retained their army rank, but they were additionally assigned a police rank. So police officers who had the army ranks of private and corporal received the rank of policemen of the lowest salary. This was the lowest rank in the police of Tsarist Russia.
Further, in seniority, were junior non-commissioned officers, who were awarded the police rank of city average salary and senior non-commissioned officers with the rank of city senior salary. Unlike army ranks, which differed in the number of stripes on the pursuit, police officers wore shoulder twisted cords and differed in the number of gomboches (rings) on them.
Who could become a policeman
It was not easy to get the rank of policeman. The selection of applicants was carried out according to strictly defined parameters. The age qualification (from 25 to 35 years old), a powerful figure, high growth (not less than 1m 83cm), excellent health and good looks - these are far from all the qualities that a policeman should have had. They had to speak intelligible and competently, complete a special training course and successfully pass the exam. Previously convicted persons were not allowed to study. By a special order, all police officers were ordered to wear mustaches.
And only after all these conditions were fulfilled, the applicants received a uniform and were enrolled in the reserve, and with good service and the appearance of a vacancy, the reservists were enrolled in the position of a foot or equestrian policeman.
Despite the fact that the figure of a policeman in cinema and literature often has a comic color, it was the police who stood guard over the interests of ordinary townspeople, regardless of their estates and statuses.
