How to Earn Every Star and Reach Commissioner

Published 2026-10-05 · Patrol Arcade team

Patrol Arcade now keeps track of your stars across every game and turns them into a rank, from Cadet all the way to Commissioner. There are 573 stars to collect in twelve level-based games, plus best scores in our two arcade classics. This guide explains exactly how each game hands out stars, where the most stars are hiding, and a sensible order to collect them, so you can climb the ranks without wasting time on levels that give nothing back.

How the rank system works

Every level, case or shift you finish earns one to three stars. Only your best result per level counts, so replaying never lowers your total. Your rank depends on the total:

You can see your current rank, a progress bar to the next one and your badges on the badges page. Everything is saved in your browser on this device; there is no account to create.

Where the 573 stars are

Squad Car Escape alone holds more than a fifth of all stars, and together with Patrol Route and Police Lineup it holds well over two fifths. Catch the Robber and Highway Pursuit do not give stars; they track your best score instead and each unlock a badge.

The exact star rules, game by game

Each game rewards a different kind of perfect play. Knowing the rule tells you what to focus on when you replay.

Puzzle and detective games (no timer)

• Squad Car Escape: solve in par moves or fewer for 3 stars. Up to par + half of par + 2 moves earns 2 stars, anything more earns 1. Using a hint caps the level at 2 stars.
• Patrol Route: no hints = 3 stars, one hint = 2 stars, more hints = 1 star.
• Police Lineup: right suspect on the first try = 3 stars, one wrong accusation = 2, more = 1.
• CCTV Spotter: 3 stars for no hints and at most two wrong taps; 2 stars for at most one hint and five wrong taps; otherwise 1.
• Evidence Match: finish at or under the case's par moves for 3 stars, within 40% over par for 2 stars.
• Evidence Locker: open the lock within the par number of guesses for 3 stars, up to two guesses over par for 2 stars. Using the hint caps that attempt at 2 stars.
• Parking Patrol: no mistakes in the whole level = 3 stars, one mistake = 2, two mistakes = 1. A third mistake ends the shift. A mistake is a ticket on a car that is still paid, or a late car you missed.

Action and arcade games (three mistakes end the level)

• Traffic Stop: 3 stars minus your strikes. A third strike ends the shift without stars.
• Dispatch Rush: 3 stars minus missed calls; three misses end the shift.
• Radio Code and Lost & Found: 3 stars minus mistakes; three mistakes end the level.
• K-9 Runner: catch the thief with no crashes for 3 stars, one or two crashes for 2, more for 1. If the thief escapes, no stars.

A smart order to climb the ranks

1. Reach Sergeant (40) by sampling. Play the first two or three levels of every game. Early levels are short and easy to three-star, and trying all fourteen games also earns the Full Patrol badge.
2. Reach Detective (100) with the calm games. Squad Car Escape, Patrol Route, Police Lineup, Evidence Locker and Parking Patrol have no timer and lots of levels. Thinking carefully is all you need.
3. Reach Inspector (200) by finishing sets. Complete all 24 Patrol Route maps and all 20 lineup cases. These also unlock the Route Master and Star Witness badges.
4. Reach Chief (350) by going back for three stars. Your two-star levels are the cheapest stars left. Replay them with the star rule above in mind.
5. Commissioner (573) means perfection everywhere, including the late shifts of Dispatch Rush and the fastest Lost & Found belts. Save these for last.

Badges worth chasing early

• First Shift and New Recruit come almost for free: earn one star and play three different games.
• Town Sheriff and Road Warrior only need a best score in Catch the Robber and Highway Pursuit.
• Gridlock Breaker asks for 20 solved Squad Car Escape puzzles, which is reachable in an afternoon.
• On the Beat and Week on Duty reward playing Today's case on the home page three and seven days in a row. A different game is featured each day, so it is a nice way to keep every game fresh.

Replaying for three stars: tips

• Puzzle games: note the par before you start. In Squad Car Escape, plan the first few moves in your head instead of sliding blocks to see what happens.
• Detective games: slow down. None of them has a timer, and every star rule there punishes guesses, not thinking time. Our guide to detective games online has specific techniques.
• Action games: the early seconds of a level are calmer. Learn the rhythm there, and keep your eyes a little ahead of the action rather than on your own car or dog.

Keep your progress safe

Because stars are stored in your browser's local storage, clearing site data or switching devices starts you from zero. Play in your normal browser window rather than a private one, and on the same device if you want to keep climbing. For more on how we handle data, see the privacy policy. Not sure which game to start with? Our overview of which police game to play compares all fourteen.

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