The force was originally commanded by a Superintendent, who also headed the Inverness Division. The other divisions were commanded by Sub Inspectors. These officers were renamed the Chief Constable and Inspectors respectively in 1857.
There were originally nine constables in the Inverness division, three in Lochaber, one in Skye, and two in Long Island, for a force of only nineteen men.
Between 1841 and 1847 the force also policed the Royal Burgh of Inverness, absorbing for that period the Town Officers and Watchmen of the Burgh, until the Inverness Burgh Police was set up as a separate force.
Throughout the existence of the Force, its headquarters were in Inverness Castle, an exclave of Inverness-shire within the boundaries of the Royal Burgh of Inverness.
Chief Officers
Eyre John Powell, 16 October 1840–24 August 1841
John MacBean, 24 October 1841–31 May 1857
William Murray, 1 June 1857–24 October 1882
Donald Aitchison (acting), 25 October 1882–1 December 1882
Alexander McHardy, 2 December 1882–30 April 1911
Hugh MacLennan (acting), 1 May 1911–1 June 1911
Major Alexander C. MacLean, 2 June 1911–2 June 1936
Ewen MacDonald (acting), 3 June 1936–30 November 1936
William Fraser, 1 December 1936–17 August 1951
John R. Johnstone, 18 August 1951–28 May 1962
James A. MacIntyre (acting), 29 May 1962–22 June 1963
Andrew L. McClure, 23 June 1963–15 November 1968
References
^Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2022.