Over the 50 years of its operation the NMP deployed more than 400 officers and 800 troopers. These men were typically organised into detachments of between 6–15 troopers led by one or two European officers. In its first 15 years of operation the officers were accorded the ranks of Sergeant, Cadet or Lieutenant. After 1864 the NMP transitioned into the civil police force and officers were given the ranks of Constable (or Camp Sergeant) and Sub-Inspector.

The information assembled here has been taken from a wide variety of sources and, given the biases of the historical record, is far from complete. Although we know most about the officers, many were employed only briefly or referred to in only a handful of documents. For some we know only a surname and the briefest of biographical information. For the troopers we know even less. Only a very few troopers had the luxury of a surname, and most were referred to by summary and often derogatory European names. It was not uncommon for troopers to be given the same name, making it extremely difficult to track particular men.

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