[nickcarraway]

The Police had 2 songwriters, Sting, and to a lesser extent, the drummer Stewart Copeland. They didn’t record any songs from outside songwriters.

I meant the "I'll Be Missing You" song, not Every Breath You take.

But for the Police, you are wrong, guitarist Summers wrote songs too. And Sting admitted he should have been credited as cowriter for EBYT.

[Boogieman]

“I meant the “I’ll Be Missing You” song, not Every Breath You take.”

Got ya.

“But for the Police, you are wrong, guitarist Summers wrote songs too. “

Maybe a few, not many though.

As for whether a guitarist gets credit for adding riffs or whatnot to a song, it’s not standard practice, but every band decides for themselves.