Argentine Federal Police

The **Argentine Federal Police** ( or **PFA**) is the national civil police force of the Argentine federal government. It has federal operating units in all provinces and in the City of Buenos Aires.

It was created on December 24, 1943, and began operating on January 1, 1945. It investigates national crimes and regularly works in conjunction with provincial police forces. From its creation until December 31, 2016, it also served as the local police force in the city of Buenos Aires. On that date, it was replaced in those functions by the **Policia de la Ciudad** (City Police), formed by merging some PFA superintendencies with the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police.

## Organization

The **PFA** is responsible for investigating crimes that encompass the jurisdiction of the entire national territory, as well as crimes exclusively within the federal scope, including drug trafficking, money laundering, environmental crimes, and human trafficking.

It also has a Criminal Intelligence Unit, as well as the University Institute of the Argentine Federal Police, which provides university training in law, criminology, and security, among other areas of study.

## Police ranks

**Officer Ranks** (in descending order)

|width="12%" align="left"|Rank|width="16%" align="left"|Approximate English translation|width="14%" align="left"|Badge of rank|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|align="left"|_Comisario General - Jefe de Policia_|align="left"|Superintendent-General / Commissioner-General - Chief of Police|align="left"|Four gold pips above a gold band & wreath|
|align="left"|_Comisario General_|align="left"|Superintendent-General _or_ Commissioner-General|align="left"|Three gold pips above a gold band & wreath|
|align="left"|_Comisario Mayor_|align="left"|Superintendent-Major _or_ Commissioner-Major|align="left"|Two gold pips above a gold band & wreath|
|align="left"|_Comisario Inspector_|align="left"|Superintendent-Inspector _or_ Commissioner-Inspector|align="left"|One gold pip above a gold band & wreath|
|align="left"|_Comisario_|align="left"|Superintendent _or_ Commissioner|align="left"|Two gold pips above a gold band|
|align="left"|_Subcomisario_|align="left"|Sub-commissioner|align="left"|One gold pip above a gold band|
|align="left"|Oficial Principal|align="left"|Principal Officer|align="left"|Three silver pips|
|align="left"|Oficial Inspector|align="left"|Inspector Officer (_or just_ Inspector)|align="left"|Two silver pips|
|align="left"|Oficial Sub-Inspector|align="left"|Sub-inspector Officer (_or just_ Sub-Inspector)|align="left"|One silver pip above one gold pip|
|align="left"|Oficial Ayudante|align="left"|Adjutant Officer _or_ Assistant Officer|align="left"|One silver pip|

**Sub-Officer Ranks** (in descending order)

|width="12%" align="left"|Rank|width="16%" align="left"|Approximate English translation|width="14%" align="left"|Badge of rank|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|align="left"|_Suboficial Mayor_|align="left"|Senior Sub-Officer|align="left"|Four chevrons above an Austrian knot|
|align="left"|_Suboficial Auxiliar_|align="left"|Auxiliary Sub-Officer|align="left"|Three chevrons above three arcs|
|align="left"|_Suboficial Escribiente_|align="left"|Clerk Sub-Officer _or_ Administrative Sub-Officer _or_ Staff Sub-Officer|align="left"|Three chevrons above two arcs|
|align="left"|_Sargento Primero_|align="left"|First Sergeant|align="left"|Three chevrons above an arc|
|align="left"|_Sargento_|align="left"|Sergeant|align="left"|Three chevrons|
|align="left"|_Cabo Primero_|align="left"|First Corporal|align="left"|Two chevrons|
|align="left"|_Cabo_|align="left"|Corporal|align="left"|One chevron|
|align="left"|_Agente_ / _Bombero_|align="left"|Officer / Fireman|||
|align="left"|_Aspirante_|align="left"|Candidate _or_ Cadet|||

## Infobox (law enforcement agency)

- **agencyname**: Argentine Federal Police
- **logo**: Emblem of the Argentine Federal Police.svg
- **abbreviation**: PFA
- **mottotranslated**: To serve the community
- **preceding1**: (1580–1880)
- **preceding2**: (1880–1943)
- **country**: Argentina
- **federal**: Yes
- **legaljuris**: opsjuris
- **police**: yes
- **headquarters**: Departamento Central de Policía, 1650 Moreno Street, Montserrat, Buenos Aires, Montserrat, Buenos Aires
- **sworn**: 25,000
- **minister1pfo**: Ministry of Interior
- **chief1name**: Luis Alejandro Rolle
- **chief1position**: Chief, Comisario General
- **chief2name**: Mariano Giuffra
- **chief2position**: Deputy Chief, Comisario General
- **footnotes**: The Policía Federal Argentina, while a federal agency, also provides direct policing to the capital city Buenos Aires