Coruscant Security Force

The Coruscant Security Force (CSF), also referred to as Coruscant Security or Coruscant Police and later as the Imperial police, was the law enforcement service in charge of maintaining order on the galactic capital planet of Coruscant. It was responsible for conducting patrols of the planet-wide city, enforcing the law, protecting citizens, conducting criminal investigations and providing general security. The Coruscant Security Force was staffed by sentient police officers who wore a blue uniform displaying their rank and the Coruscant police symbol on their left arms. They were armed with a blaster pistol and also carried a baton and stuncuffs. Those officers who worked in the deep lower levels were referred to as underworld police. Swathed in leather and metal armor of shades of gray and yellow to protect them, the officers who patrolled the underworld were much more toughened and burly than their droids and sentient counterparts on the upper levels. The Coruscant Police utilized ranks, including that of lieutenant, captain, and prefect, through which officers could progress to higher supervisory positions. Police detectives were in charge of conducting criminal investigations and were referred to as inspectors.

To provide patrol coverage in such a vast cityscape the Coruscant Security Force relied heavily on police droids, which were a much more common presence than sentient police, especially on the upper levels of Galactic City. Specifically, the GU-series Guardian police droid was utilized for patrol services and investigative support while police probes detected and reported crimes. In providing services the Coruscant Security Force primarily conducted foot patrols and utilized a variety of airspeeders. The most common of these were the Panther police interceptors which allowed for two officers or droids as well as a prisoner compartment, and the BARC speeder mostly utilized for patrol and rapid response. With the introduction of the patrol transport the officers were able to show an increased presence and firepower as well as provide for the deployment of larger forces from the troop bay. To assist the Coruscant Police, Jedi investigators, members of the Jedi Order who were experts in the workings of the criminal underworld, used their connection to the Force to help solve crimes.

With the beginning of the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems the elite clone shock troopers of the Coruscant Guard, a division of the Grand Army of the Republic, were brought in to bolster security on Coruscant. Fiercely loyal, the Coruscant Guards were assigned as peacekeepers and protectors of the Galactic Senate and Supreme Chancellor, slowly supplanting the Senate Guard. However, the Coruscant Security Force still remained primarily responsible for policing Coruscant and investigating crime throughout the duration of the Clone Wars. They were present for several incidents including the murder investigation of Senator Onaconda Farr whose killer Lolo Purs was arrested by Lieutenant Tanivos Exantor Divo, and a manhunt for Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano who managed to escape the Republic military base where she was incarcerated for the suspected murder of Letta Turmond. Tano was tracked down by underworld cops and as a result re-captured by Republic forces. With the formation of the Galactic Empire the Coruscant Police phased out its police droids and officers patrolled the streets alongside Imperial stormtroopers. After the Battle of Endor, demonstrations took place across the city. Police forces attempted to restore order and without warning fired into the crowds with blaster cannons from their police speeders. Rioting quickly erupted and stormtroopers were overwhelmed as blaster fights between police and civilians devolved into civil war across the capital. The planet eventually fell to the New Republic.

Text and facts from the “Coruscant Security Force” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.