by Luke » Fri May 07, 2010 5:27 pm
ChrisWI: Just because your dictionary gives the same meaning to the two terms, doesn't mean that they are the same in Spanish.
I believe comisionado is a loan word from English "commissioner".
Comisario, however, is a French/Spanish word borrowed into German, Swedish and other languages as Kommissar, which does not mean commissioner. Its just been translated like that into English, by ignorant translators, because it sounds similar and they cant come to terms with the multiplicity of meanings embedded in the term.
A Swedish Poliskommissarie is a Chief Police Inspector according to British terminology.
A German Polizeikommissar is a Police Constable in some German Länder, a Police Sergeant in some others.
A French Commissaire de Police is a senior rank like Chief Superintendent in Britain.
A French Commissaire de la République was a county governor 1981-1988.