By Amelia Anderson The Boston Police Department, commonly called BPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City of Boston, Massachusetts. The department responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, patrols neighbourhoods, enforces traffic laws and works with residents through community-policing and crime-prevention programs.
Boston does not publish one general number for every non-emergency police report. Residents are usually directed to the front desk of their local police district. BPD also states that regular police reports are not currently accepted over the phone or through its incident-report webpage. A person who needs to report a non-emergency incident generally must visit a Boston police district station. Emergencies and crimes in progress must always be reported through 911.
Boston Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Boston Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | BPD |
| Headquarters address | One Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Police Commissioner’s Office | 617-343-4500 |
| Operations Division | 617-343-4200 |
| Public Service Unit | 617-343-4633 |
| Internal Affairs Division | 617-343-4320 |
| CrimeStoppers Tip Line | 1-800-494-TIPS |
| CrimeStoppers text number | Text “TIP” to 27463 |
| Tow Line | 617-343-4629 |
| Loud Party Line | 617-343-5500 |
| Primary county | Suffolk County |
| Police district designations | 12 |
| County correctional facility number | 617-635-1000 |
The department’s official directory lists separate telephone numbers for headquarters offices, specialised units, towing enquiries, anonymous tips and other police services.
Boston Police Department Headquarters Address
The Boston Police Department headquarters is located at:
- Boston Police Department, One Schroeder Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts 02120
The headquarters houses the Office of the Police Commissioner, administrative functions, specialised units, licensing services and the Public Service Unit.
The Police Commissioner’s Office can be contacted at 617-343-4500. The Operations Division number is 617-343-4200, while the Public Service Unit can be reached at 617-343-4633.
The Public Service Counter is located on the first floor of headquarters. Its regular customer-service hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays. It provides copies of eligible police reports, fingerprinting and assistance with selected licences and permits.
Emergency and Non-Emergency Police Assistance
Call 911 when:
- A crime is taking place.
- Someone is injured or in immediate danger.
- A weapon is involved.
- A serious crash has occurred.
- Urgent police, fire or medical assistance is required.
- A suspect is still at the scene or nearby.
Unlike some major police departments, BPD does not identify a single citywide telephone number as its general non-emergency reporting line. For a non-urgent matter, residents should contact the front desk of the police district responsible for the location.
Boston Police also states that officers do not currently take ordinary incident reports over the phone or through the department’s report-an-incident webpage. A person who needs a report for theft, lost property, vandalism, fraud or insurance purposes may visit any Boston police station when the incident occurred within the city.
Boston Police District Stations
Boston is divided into 12 district designations. Each district has patrol officers, detectives and community-service personnel responsible for particular neighbourhoods.
| Police district | Area | Address | Front desk |
| A-1 | Downtown | 40 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02114 | 617-343-4240 |
| A-15 | Charlestown | 20 Vine Street, Charlestown, MA 02129 | 617-343-4888 |
| A-7 | East Boston | 300 East Eagle Street, East Boston, MA 02128 | 617-343-4220 |
| B-2 | Roxbury | 2400 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 | 617-343-4270 |
| B-3 | Mattapan | 1165 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02124 | 617-343-4700 |
| C-6 | South Boston | 101 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127 | 617-343-4730 |
| C-11 | Dorchester | 40 Gibson Street, Dorchester, MA 02122 | 617-343-4330 |
| D-4 | South End | 650 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 | 617-343-4250 |
| D-14 | Brighton | 301 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135 | 617-343-4260 |
| E-5 | West Roxbury | 1708 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 | 617-343-4560 |
| E-13 | Jamaica Plain | 3347 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 | 617-343-5630 |
| E-18 | Hyde Park | 1249 Hyde Park Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136 | 617-343-5600 |
District boundaries do not always follow ZIP codes or neighbourhood lines. Residents can use Boston’s address-based neighbourhood search tool to identify their police district. BPD’s district directory also lists local detective, domestic-violence, youth-service, property and community-service numbers.
Main Bureaus and Specialised Police Units
The district stations operate under the Bureau of Field Services, which manages neighbourhood patrol and regular police response.
Other major parts of BPD include:
- Bureau of Investigative Services
- Bureau of Professional Standards
- Bureau of Professional Development
- Bureau of Intelligence and Analysis
- Bureau of Administration and Technology
- Office of the Police Commissioner
- Office of the Superintendent-in-Chief
Specialised units investigate auto theft, domestic violence, sexual assault, missing persons, child abuse, human trafficking and civil-rights violations. The department also has Internal Affairs, neighbourhood watch, school-police, taxi-licensing and community-engagement functions.
What County Is the Boston Police Department In?
The Boston Police Department is located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
BPD’s jurisdiction is based on the boundaries of the City of Boston rather than the entire county. Suffolk County also includes Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop, which have their own local police agencies.
An incident that occurs outside Boston should normally be reported to the police department responsible for that city or town. Incidents on certain state-controlled roads, transit property, university campuses, federal property or Massachusetts Port Authority land may involve another law-enforcement agency.
How to File a Boston Police Report
For an emergency or crime in progress, call 911.
For a non-emergency incident that occurred within Boston, the reporting person can visit a Boston police district station. BPD states that reports are not currently taken over the phone or through its incident-report webpage.
When visiting a station, bring useful information such as:
- The exact incident location
- Date and approximate time
- Description of lost or stolen property
- Serial numbers or vehicle information
- Photographs, receipts or other evidence
- Names and contact details of witnesses
- Valid identification
A person can visit any Boston police station for an incident that occurred in the city, although visiting the district responsible for the location may make follow-up easier.
How to Obtain a Boston Police Report
Copies of eligible police reports can be requested by email or in person.
An email request should include:
- Date of the incident
- Location of the incident
- Names of the people involved
- A copy of the requester’s driver’s licence or another form of identification
In-person requests are handled at the Public Service Unit on the first floor of Boston Police Headquarters. A valid photo ID is required.
Some material may be removed from a released report. Juvenile information, medical details, protected victim information, witness details and material connected to an active investigation may be redacted or withheld. More extensive requests may need to be submitted through the City of Boston’s public-records process.
Towed and Stolen Vehicles
For information about a vehicle towed in connection with Boston Police activity, call the BPD Tow Line at 617-343-4629.
Be ready to provide:
- Licence plate number
- Vehicle identification number
- Make, model and colour
- Location where the vehicle was parked
- Registered owner’s name
To report a stolen vehicle, visit a police district station unless the theft is currently happening. Call 911 when the suspect is still present, the vehicle was taken by force or someone is in immediate danger.
The Auto Theft Unit can be contacted at 617-343-4430, while the Stolen Cars unit number is 617-343-4535. These numbers are primarily useful for case information and follow-up.
Boston Police and Suffolk County Jail Services
Boston Police officers investigate offences and make arrests, but BPD does not operate Suffolk County correctional facilities.
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department manages county detention and correctional services. The Suffolk County House of Correction is located at 20 Bradston Street, Boston, MA 02118, and its published telephone number is 617-635-1000.
Questions about an incarcerated person, visitation, property, telephone access or facility rules should be directed to the Sheriff’s Department rather than a Boston police district station.
Complaints About Boston Police Conduct
A complaint can be filed with the Boston Police Internal Affairs Division by calling 617-343-4320.
Residents may also contact the independent Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, known as OPAT. The office accepts complaints online, by telephone, email, mail or in person. Anonymous complaints are permitted.
OPAT is located at 2201 Washington Street, Suite 102, Roxbury, MA 02119. Its telephone number is 617-635-4224, and regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Boston Police have a general non-emergency phone number?
BPD does not currently advertise one number for all non-emergency reports. Contact the front desk of the district covering the incident location. Call 911 for emergencies or crimes in progress.
Q. Can I file a Boston police report online?
BPD currently states that ordinary police reports are not accepted through its incident-report webpage. A person generally needs to visit a Boston police district station.
Q. Can I report an incident at a station outside my neighbourhood?
Yes. An incident that occurred within Boston can generally be reported at any Boston police station. However, using the district responsible for the incident location may simplify follow-up.
Q. How do I find the police district for my address?
Use the City of Boston’s neighbourhood address-search service and select the public-safety information. District boundaries should not be guessed from the ZIP code alone.
Q. Can I collect a police report immediately after filing it?
Not always. The report must first be completed and entered into the department’s system. Investigative or legally protected information may also be removed before release.
Q. Does BPD operate the Suffolk County jail?
No. County detention facilities are managed by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. BPD handles city policing, investigations and arrests.
Q. Where can I safely complete an online purchase exchange?
BPD has designated safe exchange areas at its district stations and headquarters. These locations may be used when meeting a stranger to complete an online marketplace transaction.
Q. What number should I call about a loud party?
Boston Police operates a Party Line at 617-343-5500. Call 911 instead when the gathering involves violence, weapons, injuries or another immediate danger.
Q. Can I make an anonymous crime tip?
Yes. Call 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word “TIP” to 27463. CrimeStoppers should not be used as a substitute for 911 during an emergency.