Provost Marshal

A provost marshal commands a group of military police (MPs). The title originated with an older term for MPs, provosts, from the Old French prévost, meaning "person placed in charge". While a provost marshal is now usually a senior commissioned officer, the title can apply to a person of any rank who commands any number of MPs; historically, civilian officials could become provost mashalls, especially under conditions of martial law, or when a military force had day-to-day responsibility for some or all aspects of civilian law-enforcement. A provost marshal may also oversee security services, imprisonment, fire/emergency services and ambulances.