The world of anime is expansive and offers many unique stories with compelling characters, engaging plots, and epic moments. While some anime come and go, many deliver unique and memorable experiences. Those types of anime typically contain well-written storylines and characters.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, we’d like to highlight the best anime police officers of all time. Whether they’re adored for their investigative abilities or their respective personalities, these officers are worth acknowledging here.
Feel free to give your thoughts about our picks in the comments below!
Akane Tsunemori (Psycho-Pass)
Akane Tsunemori is one of the greatest officers in anime. She demonstrates great leadership skills, intelligence, and dedication to justice to make her an admiral figure in Psycho-Pass. One of her notable traits is her ability to make calculated decisions in extreme circumstances. With her analytical mind and investigative know-how, Akane can solve the most mind-numbing cases.
Akane motivates others to work harder and some will share her similar sense of justice. Throughout the series, Akane makes calculated risks for the good and for the bad. Nevertheless, she makes sure her plans won’t harm the safety of those around her. Even when she’s undergoing a problematic scenario, Akane won’t these scenarios jeopardize her ideals.
On top of being a well-rounded and empathetic officer in the series, Akane will inspire most people to fight for justice in their own communities.
Division 2 (Patlabor)
The members of Division 2 from Patlabor are wonderful police officers who have a wide range of skills. Each member brings a distinct set of strengths to the table, allowing them to work together seamlessly in any situation. From the composed Goto to the hot-headed Noa, each member displays years of experience in law enforcement.
These officers utilize mechs to deal with rogue robots and criminals. This allows them to stand out from officers from other anime. Goto, Noa, and the others have great chemistry and teamwork. Each member understands their role in the group and has complete trust in their partners. This helps these characters feel realistic since cooperation is essential in law enforcement, especially when officers are tackling high-level cases.
On top of their commitment to justice, Division 2 consists of a well-crafted group of officers who deserve their spot on this list.
Major Kusanagi (Ghost In The Shell)
Koutarou Amon (Tokyo Ghoul)
Koutarou Amon is a skilled police officer with an impeccable work ethic and exceptional abilities. He’s known for being a skilled investigator in Tokyo Ghoul with a sharp mindset and an excellent understanding of his signature weapon. His knowledge of ghouls makes him a formidable officer since he knows of their habits and uses them to assess crimes normal investigators can’t resolve.
Furthermore, Amon is known for being a hard worker. He holds himself to a high standard of excellence and is always focused on his mission. He’s willing to put himself in harm’s way to ensure justice is served. This often conflicts with other investigators who’d instead protect themselves.
Amon follows a great moral code that also puts him at odds with his colleagues and superiors. On top of being a compassionate person toward innocent people and his colleagues, Amon is a great officer that deserves to be recognized.
Rin Asogi (Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne)
Rin Asogi is a powerful and impenetrable anime officer who possesses a unique set of skills and abilities. Rin’s supernatural origin makes her an indestructible force in the series. Despite being an enigmatic force, her immortality has some drawbacks. She can still sustain injuries like normal humans, but her status allows her to tackle dangerous cases regular officers wouldn’t attempt to solve.
Rin displays excellent hand-to-hand fighting ability and marksmanship. She can wield multiple weapons proficiently, and her powers make her a deadlier adversary for criminals to defeat. Rin has an eye for detail that allows her to pick up on clues typical officers can’t. She is also strongly committed to justice and has little mercy for people who break the law.
Sometimes her beliefs will put her at odds with her colleagues, but it’s her sense of justice and morality that helps her stand out from others. Overall, Rin is a great officer who possesses a distinct set of skills and abilities that will leave folks entertained.
Misaki Kirihara (Darker Than Black)
Misaki Kirihara from Darker Than Black is one of the best police officers in anime. She displays excellent leadership skills as an officer of the Public Security Bureau. Misaki’s not afraid to make heinous decisions to protect the public from danger. Her sharp mind and keen intuition allow her to solve the toughest of cases.
Misaki’s investigative skills are top-notch to the point that she can link seemingly unrelated events and clues together. Her relentless pursuit of the series’s protagonist Hei is proof enough of her skills. She’ll try her hardest to connect the dots concerning his true identity and involvement in criminal mishaps. Her determination to bring those who committed wrongs in the past is unprecedented.
Despite her devotion to justice, Misaki’s known for being empathetic to those who’ve experienced tragedy, regardless if they’re victims or criminals. This alone makes her an admirable officer in Darker Than Black.
Kankichi Ryotsu (Kochikame)
Kankichi Ryotsu is a great police officer, despite his comedic antics. He’ll try his best to keep the public safe from harm and possesses great strength and endurance. These attributes allow Kankichi to chase criminals and capture them. His robust physique enables him to deal with challenging obstacles head-on, showcasing his commitment to sustaining peace.
Kankichi has great problem-solving skills and can conjure up solutions on the fly to resolve cases effectively. There’s one episode where Kankicchi uses rainfall data to identify different locations where a criminal might be hiding. This proves how he’s a valuable asset to his police force. His unwavering sense of justice shouldn’t be overlooked as he’ll do everything in his power to protect the innocent.
Inspector Zenigata (Lupin III)
Inspector Zenigata is a wacky recurring character in the Lupin III series. He serves as Lupin’s adversary and vows to one day put him behind bars for all the crimes he’s pulled off over the years. Although he’s failed time and again, Zenigata demonstrates remarkable detective skills throughout the Lupin III series. From piecing together clues to anticipating Lupin III’s next moves, Zenigata’s shown he has the intellect and deductive reasoning skills necessary to handle many cases.
Zenigata’s physical prowess makes him a formidable adversary in the series too. He engaged in intense chases and fights, exhibiting immense might, agility, and endurance. Finally, Zenigata’s a compassionate fellow who can recognize the true nature of individuals and ultimately make decisions based on his principles. There are many instances where he’s helped Lupin overcome dangerous threats, highlighting his honor as a police officer to protect all lives above his own.
Kenjiro Shibazaki (Terror In Resonance)
Kenjiro Shibazaki is a noteworthy figure in Studio Mappa’s Terror In Resonance anime. He demonstrates great deductive reasoning skills and is shown to be a highly observant figure. Kenjiro uses varied skills to navigate through complex cases. This assists him with his battle with Nine and Twelve, the series’ protagonists.
Kenjiro’s pursuit of justice and commitment to his duty is evident throughout the series. Although his ideals will clash with those around him, Kenjiro remains firm on his stance of upholding the law and seeking the truth. He risks his reputation and career to bring Nine and Twelve to justice and refuses to undermine his principles along the way. His determination to uncover the truth and protect the public from harm shows his affirmation of his role as an officer.
Natsuki Sasahara (Hyper Police)
Another skilled female officer viewers should become aware of is Natsuki Sasahara. She’s a skilled fighter, adept in many styles of combat. From martial arts to marksmanship, Natsuki is a versatile opponent criminals would be foolish to underestimate. Whether she’s engaging in physical combat or using firearms, Natsuki ensures the safety of herself, her team, and the innocent.
Like other officers on this list, Natsuki is an intelligent female cadet, capable of solving problems with her keen eye for detail. Her ability to think critically, make rational decisions, and connect the dots for tough cases, makes her a fun intellectual opponent for criminals to challenge.
On top of being an officer who’ll support innocents from all walks of life, Natsuki is a remarkable authority figure many aspiring officers can look up to and appreciate.
So, there we have it, our picks for the 10 best anime police officers through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!