A senior rank policeman who denies Kovalev’s request for assistance locating the nose. In doing so, the police commissioner deeply offends Kovalev, telling him that a man of his rank is just the type to lose their nose while up to no good. The commissioner’s dismissive attitude towards Kovalev indicates that he holds a higher status (indeed, commissioners held a higher rank than colligate accessors within the Table of Ranks, Russia’s system governing society during the time the story is set).