By Amelia Anderson The New Orleans Police Department, commonly known as NOPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving New Orleans, Louisiana. It responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, patrols neighbourhoods, enforces traffic laws and provides crime-prevention and victim-support services.
NOPD operates through eight geographic police districts. Residents and visitors should call 911 when a crime is happening or someone is in immediate danger. For incidents that are not emergencies, they can call the department’s non-emergency reporting number. Selected property-related incidents can also be reported online.
New Orleans Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | New Orleans Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | NOPD |
| Main administrative address | 1615 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency and police reports | 504-821-2222 |
| Records and Identification Division | 504-658-5455 |
| Alternative Police Reporting Unit | 504-658-5289 |
| Investigation and Support Bureau | 504-658-5300 |
| Field Operations Bureau | 504-658-5740 |
| Public Integrity Bureau | 504-658-6800 |
| Property and Evidence | 504-658-5500 |
| Towed-vehicle information | 504-658-8100 |
| Crime Stoppers | 504-822-1111 |
| Parish | Orleans Parish |
| Number of police districts | Eight |
| Inmate information | 504-827-6777 |
New Orleans Police Department Address
The main administrative location of the New Orleans Police Department is:
- 1615 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
The office generally operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The building houses police administration, records services, investigative offices and several support functions.
People do not need to visit this address whenever they require an officer. Police dispatch should be contacted when assistance is needed at a residence, business, street or other incident location.
Call 911 when:
- A crime is currently happening.
- Someone is injured or in immediate danger.
- A firearm or another weapon is involved.
- A suspect is still at or near the scene.
- A serious traffic crash has occurred.
- Immediate police, fire or medical assistance is required.
For a delayed incident or another matter that does not present an immediate danger, call 504-821-2222.
NOLA 311 should be used for many city-service and quality-of-life matters that do not require police response. These include potholes, damaged streetlights, trash, abandoned property, code violations and some abandoned-vehicle complaints.
Important NOPD Phone Numbers
| Police service | Phone number |
| Emergency assistance | 911 |
| Non-emergency police reports | 504-821-2222 |
| Records and Identification | 504-658-5455 |
| Alternative Police Reporting | 504-658-5289 |
| Field Operations Bureau | 504-658-5740 |
| Investigation and Support Bureau | 504-658-5300 |
| Public Integrity Bureau | 504-658-6800 |
| Professional Standards and Accountability | 504-658-5080 |
| Property and Evidence | 504-658-5500 |
| Towed-vehicle information | 504-658-8100 |
| Crime Stoppers | 504-822-1111 |
| Orleans Parish inmate information | 504-827-6777 |
Specialised-unit numbers are mainly intended for information and case follow-up. A new crime should normally be reported through 911, the non-emergency number, an online report or the district serving the incident location.
New Orleans Police Districts
NOPD divides New Orleans into eight police districts. Each district operates under a district captain and has patrol officers, detectives and community-liaison personnel.
| Police district | Address | Phone number |
| First District | 501 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 | 504-658-6010 |
| Second District | 3401 Broadway Street, New Orleans, LA 70125 | 504-658-6020 |
| Third District | 4650 Paris Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122 | 504-658-6030 |
| Fourth District | 2405 Sanctuary Drive, New Orleans, LA 70114 | 504-658-6040 |
| Fifth District | 3900 N. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117 | 504-658-6050 |
| Sixth District | 1930 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70113 | 504-658-6060 |
| Seventh District | 10101 Dwyer Road, New Orleans, LA 70127 | 504-658-6070 |
| Eighth District | 334 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 | 504-658-6080 |
Police-district boundaries do not always follow ZIP codes, City Council districts or commonly used neighbourhood names. Residents should use the city’s address-search tool or call the non-emergency number when they are unsure which district serves a location.
Areas Served by Each Police District
The First District serves areas including Treme, Mid-City, Bayou St. John, Iberville, Tulane-Lafitte and Tulane-Gravier.
The Second District covers many Uptown and university-area neighbourhoods, including Audubon, Broadmoor, Carrollton, Freret, Gert Town, Hollygrove and West Riverside.
The Third District serves Gentilly, Lakeview, City Park, West End, Pontchartrain Park, Dillard, Milneburg and surrounding communities.
The Fourth District covers the West Bank portion of New Orleans, including Algiers Point, Behrman, English Turn, Federal City, Fischer, McDonogh and Old Aurora.
The Fifth District serves Bywater, St. Roch, St. Claude, the Seventh Ward, Desire, Florida and the Lower Ninth Ward.
The Sixth District covers Central City, the Garden District, Irish Channel, Milan, Lower Garden District, Touro and nearby neighbourhoods.
The Seventh District serves New Orleans East, including Little Woods, Read Boulevard, Lake Catherine, Village de L’Est, Plum Orchard and West Lake Forest.
The Eighth District serves the French Quarter, Central Business District, Convention Center area and portions of Marigny. Visitors reporting incidents around Bourbon Street or much of the French Quarter will generally deal with the Eighth District.
Main NOPD Bureaus and Specialised Units
NOPD’s district patrol operations are supported by several department-wide bureaus.
The Field Operations Bureau manages the eight police districts and frontline police response. It also oversees specialised services such as tactical operations, K-9 officers, marine operations, bomb technicians and traffic enforcement.
The Investigation and Support Bureau handles serious and complex cases. Its units investigate:
- Homicides
- Robberies
- Sexual offences
- Child abuse
- Domestic violence
- Missing persons
- Property crimes
- Financial crimes
- Narcotics
- Gang-related offences
- Cybercrime
The Management Services Bureau manages records, personnel, recruitment, training, fleet services and other administrative functions.
The Public Integrity Bureau investigates complaints and allegations of misconduct involving NOPD employees.
A criminal case may begin with a district patrol officer and later be assigned to a detective or specialised investigative unit.
What County Is the New Orleans Police Department In?
New Orleans is located in Orleans Parish. Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties.
The boundaries of the City of New Orleans and Orleans Parish are generally the same. NOPD therefore provides local police services throughout most of the city-parish.
However, certain locations may be served by specialised agencies. These can include:
- University campuses
- Port facilities
- Public transit property
- Federal buildings
- State highways
- Levee district property
- Railway property
The incident location determines which agency has primary responsibility. During an emergency, callers should dial 911 and allow dispatchers to send the correct department.
How to File a New Orleans Police Report Online
NOPD accepts online reports for selected non-emergency incidents.
Online reporting can be used for:
- Property damage
- Lost property
- Theft, excluding motor-vehicle theft
- Additional information for an existing case
The online system is appropriate only when:
- The incident is not an emergency.
- It occurred within Orleans Parish.
- The suspect is unknown.
- No suspect vehicle information is available.
- The incident does not involve a firearm.
After completing an online report, the reporting person receives an official case number immediately and can download a copy without charge.
All online reports are reviewed. NOPD may contact the reporting person when additional information or further investigation is required.
For questions about a submitted online report, call the Alternative Police Reporting Unit at 504-658-5289.
Reporting a Stolen Vehicle
A completed motor-vehicle theft cannot be reported through the standard online property-reporting system.
Call 504-821-2222 and provide:
- Vehicle identification number
- Licence plate number
- Year, make and model
- Vehicle colour
- Registered owner’s information
- Location where the vehicle was last seen
- Approximate time of the theft
- Information about the keys
Call 911 when the theft is happening, the suspect is still nearby or the vehicle was taken through violence or threats.
Obtaining Police and Accident Reports
The Records and Identification Division is located on the fifth floor of:
- 1615 Poydras Street
- New Orleans, LA 70112
The Records Division can be contacted at 504-658-5455. Its public counter generally operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Police reports can also be requested through the city’s public-records system.
Requesters should provide:
- NOPD item number
- Incident date
- Exact location
- Names of involved people
- Type of incident
- Contact information
The item number is NOPD’s main case-reference number. It appears on the document provided by the reporting officer and is useful when contacting Records or investigators.
Reports may be redacted when they contain juvenile information, protected victim details, confidential informant information or material connected to an active investigation.
Traffic-accident reports can generally be purchased through NOPD’s authorised online crash-report service. Reports may not appear immediately because the officer must complete and submit them first.
Property and Evidence Retrieval
NOPD’s Property and Evidence release location is:
- 1116 Magnolia Street
- New Orleans, Louisiana
Public release hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For assistance, call 504-658-5500 or 504-658-5504.
People collecting property should bring:
- Government-issued identification
- The NOPD item number
- Proof of ownership
- Any required release document
Evidence connected to a criminal case cannot normally be released until the investigator, prosecutor or court approves it. Firearms require an additional background check before release.
Towed and Impounded Vehicles
To check whether a vehicle has been towed in New Orleans, call 504-658-8100.
The main city tow lot is located at:
- 400 N. Claiborne Avenue
- New Orleans, LA 70112
The lot generally operates seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Vehicles held for an extended period may be moved to the Almonaster impound facility. Owners should confirm the vehicle’s location before travelling.
Vehicle release may require:
- Valid photo identification
- Registration or title
- Proof of ownership
- Payment of towing and storage fees
- Payment of qualifying outstanding parking or camera tickets
A vehicle being held as criminal evidence may not be released until the investigating officer or prosecutor removes the police hold.
NOPD and Orleans Parish Jail Services
NOPD officers investigate crimes and make arrests, but the department does not operate the parish jail.
Detention facilities are managed by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Inmate information is available by calling 504-827-6777.
The automated system provides information such as:
- Charges
- Custody location
- Visitation details
- Mailing instructions
- Commissary deposits
A recently arrested person may not appear immediately while identification, booking and transfer procedures are being completed.
Complaints About NOPD Employees
Complaints involving an NOPD officer or employee are handled by the Public Integrity Bureau.
The Public Integrity Bureau can be contacted at 504-658-6800. Complaints can also be submitted online or at an NOPD facility.
A complaint should include:
- Incident date and time
- Exact location
- Officer’s name or badge number, when known
- NOPD item number
- Witness information
- Photographs or video
- A clear description of what happened
A person may still file a complaint without knowing the officer’s name. The location, date, time, police vehicle number and physical description may help identify the employee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I report a crime at any NOPD district station?
A: A district station may assist with a report, but the station responsible for the incident location is normally best placed to handle the case. Call 504-821-2222 before visiting when you are unsure.
Q: Can visitors file a police report after leaving New Orleans?
A: A visitor may use the online reporting system when the incident qualifies. For incidents involving a known suspect, violence, firearms or evidence, contact NOPD directly.
Q: Which police district serves the French Quarter?
A: The French Quarter is primarily served by the Eighth District at 334 Royal Street.
Q: Can I report a stolen car online?
A: No. Motor-vehicle theft is excluded from the standard online reporting system. Call the NOPD non-emergency number or 911 when the theft is in progress.
Q: Does NOPD operate the Orleans Parish jail?
A: No. Parish detention facilities are operated by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Call 504-827-6777 for inmate information.
Q: Is Orleans Parish the same as a county?
A: Yes, for practical purposes. Louisiana calls its county-level divisions parishes. New Orleans is located in Orleans Parish.
Q: How can I find out whether my car was towed?
A: Call 504-658-8100 and provide the licence plate number, vehicle identification number and registered owner’s information.
Q: Can another person collect my property from NOPD?
A: Possibly. Written authorisation, identification and proof of ownership may be required. Contact Property and Evidence before visiting.
Q: Can I obtain an unredacted police report?
A: Not always. Information involving minors, protected victims, confidential sources or pending investigations may be removed or withheld.
Q: Should I call 311 or the police non-emergency number?
A: Call 311 for ordinary city-service concerns such as potholes, damaged streetlights, trash and code violations. Call 504-821-2222 when you need to report a crime or request non-emergency police assistance.