Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department


The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the prefectural police department of Tokyo Metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a Superintendent-General, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission, and approved by the Prime Minister.
The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more than 40,000 police officers, and over 2,800 civilian personnel, manages 102 stations in the prefecture.
The main building of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is located in the Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda ward, Tokyo. Built in 1980, it is 18 stories tall, a large wedge-shaped building with a cylindrical tower. It is easily seen from the street and a well-known landmark.
The HQ building is located in Sakurada Gate, so it is also metonymically called "Sakurada Gate".

History

To prepare for the G20 summit in 2019, the TMPD announced the establishment of the Water Response Team in order to police bodies of water near G20 summit venues.

Scandals

In 1978, the TMPD was investigated when a uniformed officer killed a female university student inside her residence. In 1997, an officer was caught for making up information in an amphetamine case.
In 2007, the TMPD was under scrutiny when a serving TMPD officer was involved in an incident where he used his official sidearm to shoot a female person to death before he committed suicide. The TMPD was investigating an incident in the Kamata Police Station in Ota Ward where a police officer committed suicide in February 2014 due to harassment at work. The chief in charge was disciplined.

Organization

The Metropolitan Police Department is under the command of a Superintendent-General and reports directly to the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission. The Superintendent-General can be appointed and replaced at any time as long as the prime minister and the TMPSC receives their approval.
Since the MPD is autonomous, it does not operate under the authority of any Regional Police Bureau.
The MPD commands the following bureaus:
The MPD also has its own academy, the Metropolitan Police Department Academy.

Ranks and insignia

The ranks used in the TMPD have been slightly revised in 2013, changing only the English translation of some of the ranks used by the force.
Otherwise, these ranks are observed throughout its history.