Project- Influences of Roman military on modern day riot control

[Robert Vermaat]

Normal chain of command exists for the forces. Sergeants are sometimes in the line but usually in the back of it, to better give command and control while monitoring radios and being given commands from the rear, they oversea riot control certified Patrolman. These will in turn be controlled by Lieutenants (who rarely will be included in the line, stationed behind for command and control), Captains, Chiefs, and any other senior officers in attendance (usually its a goat rope, with LOTS of brass, all giving conflicting commands, leading to more confusion and chaos).

I've never believed the idea that centurions were in the front line, let alone the corner of the checkerboard pattern which was almost suicidal as a position. It's pretty obvious that if the "brains" were in the most vulnerable position, then they'd be targetted right from the start leaving a broken chain of command and control.

Sorry but two misconceptions here I think.
One, the role of a modern sergeant controlling his unit through information is totally different from that of a centurio. The speed and amount of information gathering during battle would be incomparable (meaning the centurio would hardly gather any by comparison).
Also, the chaos of battle would make the amount of control very difficult if a centurio was in the rear and would have to direct from there. The officer stood in front, next to the standard/cornicen, the troops watched these and acted accordingly.
Centurios stood in the front line, or maybe behind a line of antesignani, and had NCOs controlling the rear in case of defectors or a change of front.
Two,