commissario

Commissario is a title and rank used in Italian-speaking contexts and in several European police forces, derived from the Latin commissarius, meaning "one entrusted with a task." In Italian, it is commonly translated as "commissioner" and denotes a senior police officer or administrator who oversees operations, investigations, or a police station.

In Italy, Commissario is a recognized rank within the Polizia di Stato and the Carabinieri, and officers at this level may supervise investigations, command units, or head regional offices. The title is often further subdivided, with ranks such as Commissario Aggiunto and Commissario Capo used to indicate seniority.

Beyond policing, the term is used in public administration to designate officials appointed to oversee a territory, agency, or special mandate, for example during transitional periods, emergencies, or restructurings. In such contexts the appointive form is sometimes described as commissario straordinario or commissario prefettizio in Italian usage.

In culture, "Commissario" is a common title for the head of a police force in Italian crime fiction and media, evocative of leadership and authority. The form has entered English-language translations and is widely recognized in the genre.

Related terms exist in other Romance languages—español comisario, Portuguese comissário—and share a common heritage. The Italian commissario is distinct from the historical Russian "komissar" or German "Kommissar," which arose in different contexts.