DENMARK IS NOT A FEDERAL STATE AND IS ACTUALLY COMPARABLE IN STRUCTURE TO A U.S. STATE. GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE PARTLY CENTRALIZED AND PARTLY MANAGED BY REGIONAL AUTHORITIES (CORRESPONDING TO COUNTIES) AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES (MUNICIPALITIES). A POLICE DISTRICT IS MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES. ALL OF DENMARK'S 54 POLICE CHIEFS ARE UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN LAW, AND ALL HAVE SPENT 10 TO 20 YEARS AS ASSISTANT CHIEFS, WORKING PRIMARILY FOR THE PROSECUTION IN COURT. THE CHIEF ACTS AS COMMANDER OF THE POLICE FORCE IN THE DISTRICT, AS SUBORDINATE PROSECUTING AUTHORITY, AND AS THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE STATE POLICE FORCE IS THE ONLY POLICE FORCE IN DENMARK. A NATIONAL COMMISSIONER IS IN CHARGE OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE FORCE, TRAINING, PROMOTIONS, DISTRIBUTION OF EQUIPMENT, AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT. THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE POLICE. THE POLICE-POPULATION RATIO IN DENMARK IS 1:590. POLICE SALARIES RANGE FROM $12,000 TO $30,000. POLICE OFFICERS RANK IN PAY WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS. NO DIPLOMA OR DEGREE IS REQUIRED FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE FORCE. OFFICIAL POLICY IS THAT POLICE PERSONNEL SHOULD REFLECT A CROSS-SECTION OF THE POPULATION. STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE ARE SET NATIONALLY, AND STRICT RULES REGARDING THE USE OF FIREARMS ARE IN FORCE. LOCAL COUNCILS PROVIDE FOR CITIZEN INPUT TO POLICE POLICY. CITIZENS WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POLICE HAVE ACCESS BOTH TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE OMBUDSMAN. (LKM)