An estimated 665,380 police and sheriff’s patrol officers are employed in the United States, according to May 2021 data. The vast majority of these officers work for local governments, with only about 10% working for state governments, and only a fraction working for universities, hospitals, schools, and other entities.
On average, there are about 2.4 police officers per 1,000 people and 3.4 civilian law enforcement personnel per 1,000 people. Considering the differences across states and urban population centers, police departments vary in size but often fall somewhere near the national average.
States like New York and Utah are vastly different by many measures and demographics, and their police departments reflect this. Within each state, too, population centers vary in size and require matching police departments. A small rural community does not need as large a police department as a large metropolitan area. And most states have at least one if not several large urban centers. (These are the most dangerous states to be a police officer.)
To find the largest police department in every state, 24/7 Wall St. referenced law enforcement employment data from the FBI’s 2021 Uniform Crime Reporting Program for 2021. We ranked each state in terms of its total of officers and civilians employed by a department. We excluded law enforcement agencies with greater jurisdictions than cities or counties, such as State Troopers and Highway Patrol.
It is important to note that this list is reflective of the departments that reported this data to the FBI. Several large cities do not report this data. In cases of the 50 largest cities in the United States that did not report to the FBI, we reviewed city budgets and other documents to best identify comparable city department sizes. Those cities include Philadelphia, Chicago, Columbus, and Indianapolis. For these cities we did not include police personnel per 1,000 population. (These are America’s most heavily policed cities.)
It is not surprising to find New York City and Los Angeles topping the list in New York and California, respectively. The two are the most populous and second-most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S. And while Ada, Idaho, and Polk, Iowa,may not be readily familiar, they respectively encompass Boise, Idaho’s largest city, and Des Moines, Iowa’s largest city.
Still, although these are the largest police departments in their respective states, the largest police department in Vermont is Burlington, which employs 99 police and civilians. Compare that to New York City’s police department employing over 50,000 personnel.
Here is a look at the largest police department in each state:
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Alabama: Birmingham
> Total police personnel (2021): 951
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 4.6
> Total officers (2021): 756
> Total civilians (2021): 195
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Source: Melissa Kopka / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Alaska: Anchorage
> Total police personnel (2021): 574
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.0
> Total officers (2021): 413
> Total civilians (2021): 161
Source: pabst_ell / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Arizona: Phoenix
> Total police personnel (2021): 3,772
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.3
> Total officers (2021): 2795
> Total civilians (2021): 977
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Arkansas: Little Rock
> Total police personnel (2021): 659
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.3
> Total officers (2021): 534
> Total civilians (2021): 125
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California: Los Angeles
> Total police personnel (2021): 15,286
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 16.6
> Total officers (2021): 9522
> Total civilians (2021): 5,764
Source: Chet Strange / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Colorado: Denver
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,784
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.4
> Total officers (2021): 1447
> Total civilians (2021): 337
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Connecticut: Hartford
> Total police personnel (2021): 419
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.5
> Total officers (2021): 395
> Total civilians (2021): 24
Delaware: New Castle County Police Department
> Total police personnel (2021): 430
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 1.0
> Total officers (2021): 376
> Total civilians (2021): 54
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Florida: Miami-Dade
> Total police personnel (2021): 4,154
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.6
> Total officers (2021): 3020
> Total civilians (2021): 1,134
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Georgia: Atlanta
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,095
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 4.0
> Total officers (2021): 1641
> Total civilians (2021): 454
Source: anouchka / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Hawaii: Honolulu
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,437
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.5
> Total officers (2021): 1942
> Total civilians (2021): 495
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Idaho: Ada
> Total police personnel (2021): 551
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.7
> Total officers (2021): 190
> Total civilians (2021): 361
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Illinois: Chicago
> Total police personnel (2021): 14,058
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): N/A
> Total officers (2021): 13108
> Total civilians (2021): 950
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Indiana: Indianapolis
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,950
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): N/A
> Total officers (2021): 1700
> Total civilians (2021): 250
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Source: Courtesy of Polk County Sheriff's Office, Iowa via Facebook
Iowa: Polk
> Total police personnel (2021): 500
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 8.4
> Total officers (2021): 150
> Total civilians (2021): 350
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Kansas: Johnson
> Total police personnel (2021): 651
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 24.4
> Total officers (2021): 484
> Total civilians (2021): 167
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Source: Brett Carlsen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Kentucky: Louisville Metro
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,320
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.0
> Total officers (2021): 1038
> Total civilians (2021): 282
Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Louisiana: Jefferson
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,273
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.9
> Total officers (2021): 858
> Total civilians (2021): 415
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Maine: Portland
> Total police personnel (2021): 203
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.0
> Total officers (2021): 146
> Total civilians (2021): 57
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Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Maryland: Baltimore
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,843
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 4.8
> Total officers (2021): 2360
> Total civilians (2021): 483
Source: LornaWu / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Boston
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,716
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.9
> Total officers (2021): 2184
> Total civilians (2021): 532
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Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Michigan: Detroit
> Total police personnel (2021): 3,100
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 4.6
> Total officers (2021): 2475
> Total civilians (2021): 625
Source: jferrer / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Minnesota: Hennepin
> Total police personnel (2021): 824
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 94.8
> Total officers (2021): 321
> Total civilians (2021): 503
Source: Rex_Wholster / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Jackson
> Total police personnel (2021): 416
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.7
> Total officers (2021): 278
> Total civilians (2021): 138
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Source: Jamie Squire / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Missouri: Kansas City
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,839
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.7
> Total officers (2021): 1286
> Total civilians (2021): 553
Source: Courtesy of Mark Holloway via Flickr
Montana: Yellowstone
> Total police personnel (2021): 187
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.8
> Total officers (2021): 60
> Total civilians (2021): 127
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Source: Eric Thayer / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Nebraska: Omaha
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,044
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.2
> Total officers (2021): 895
> Total civilians (2021): 149
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Nevada: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
> Total police personnel (2021): 5,760
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.4
> Total officers (2021): 3994
> Total civilians (2021): 1,766
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New Hampshire: Manchester
> Total police personnel (2021): 269
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.4
> Total officers (2021): 222
> Total civilians (2021): 47
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New Jersey: Jersey City
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,444
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 5.3
> Total officers (2021): 934
> Total civilians (2021): 510
Source: Courtesy of Albuquergue Police Department via Facebook
New Mexico: Albuquerque
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,474
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.6
> Total officers (2021): 940
> Total civilians (2021): 534
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New York: New York
> Total police personnel (2021): 50,029
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 5.9
> Total officers (2021): 35047
> Total civilians (2021): 14,982
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Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
North Carolina: Charlotte-Mecklenburg
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,281
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.4
> Total officers (2021): 1734
> Total civilians (2021): 547
Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
North Dakota: Fargo
> Total police personnel (2021): 199
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 1.6
> Total officers (2021): 180
> Total civilians (2021): 19
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Ohio: Columbus
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,100
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): N/A
> Total officers (2021): 1800
> Total civilians (2021): 300
Source: Brian Harkin / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,378
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.0
> Total officers (2021): 1105
> Total civilians (2021): 273
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Source: Nathan Howard / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Oregon: Portland
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,040
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 1.6
> Total officers (2021): 791
> Total civilians (2021): 249
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Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
> Total police personnel (2021): 7,300
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): N/A
> Total officers (2021): 6500
> Total civilians (2021): 800
Source: Courtesy of Providence Police Department via Facebook
Rhode Island: Providence
> Total police personnel (2021): 533
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.9
> Total officers (2021): 449
> Total civilians (2021): 84
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Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
South Carolina: Charleston
> Total police personnel (2021): 651
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 8.0
> Total officers (2021): 271
> Total civilians (2021): 380
Source: Courtesy of Pennington County Sheriff's Office via Facebook
South Dakota: Pennington
> Total police personnel (2021): 431
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 14.6
> Total officers (2021): 101
> Total civilians (2021): 330
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Source: Mindaugas Dulinskas / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Tennessee: Memphis
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,446
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.8
> Total officers (2021): 2027
> Total civilians (2021): 419
Source: typhoonski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Texas: Houston
> Total police personnel (2021): 6,249
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.7
> Total officers (2021): 5250
> Total civilians (2021): 999
Source: Onfokus / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: Salt Lake City
> Total police personnel (2021): 627
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.0
> Total officers (2021): 490
> Total civilians (2021): 137
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Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Vermont: Burlington
> Total police personnel (2021): 99
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.3
> Total officers (2021): 69
> Total civilians (2021): 30
Source: Imagesbybarbara / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Virginia: Fairfax County Police Department
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,768
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 1.6
> Total officers (2021): 1430
> Total civilians (2021): 338
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Source: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images
Washington: Seattle
> Total police personnel (2021): 1,597
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 2.0
> Total officers (2021): 1178
> Total civilians (2021): 419
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
West Virginia: Charleston
> Total police personnel (2021): 180
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 4.0
> Total officers (2021): 157
> Total civilians (2021): 23
Wisconsin: Milwaukee
> Total police personnel (2021): 2,015
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 3.4
> Total officers (2021): 1654
> Total civilians (2021): 361
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Wyoming: Laramie
> Total police personnel (2021): 175
> Police personnel per 1,000 population (2021): 5.1
> Total officers (2021): 43
> Total civilians (2021): 132
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