By Amelia Anderson The Denver Police Department, commonly known as DPD, is the main municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City and County of Denver, Colorado. The department responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws, patrols neighbourhoods and provides victim-support and crime-prevention services.
Denver has a consolidated city-and-county government. This means the city and county operate as a single jurisdiction. The Denver Police Department handles policing and criminal investigations, while the separate Denver Sheriff Department manages detention facilities and performs court-related duties.
People should call 911 when a crime is taking place, someone is in immediate danger or urgent medical, fire or police assistance is required. For situations that require police attention but are not immediate emergencies, the Denver Police non-emergency number should be used.
Denver Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Denver Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | DPD |
| Headquarters | Police Administration Building |
| Headquarters address | 1331 Cherokee Street, Denver, CO 80204 |
| Information Desk | 720-913-6010 |
| Chief’s Office | 720-913-6527 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency police number | 720-913-2000 |
| Telephone Reporting Unit | 720-913-1460 |
| Victim Assistance Unit | 720-913-6035 |
| Police records assistance | 720-913-6755 |
| Crash-report assistance | 720-913-6029 |
| Anonymous crime tips | 720-913-7867 |
| Complaints and commendations | 720-913-3306 |
| County | City and County of Denver |
| Number of police districts | Six |
| Denver inmate information | 720-913-3600 |
Denver Police Department Headquarters Address
The Denver Police Department’s administrative headquarters is located at:
- Police Administration Building, 1331 Cherokee Street, Denver, Colorado 80204
The Police Administration Building is situated near Denver’s Civic Center and several other city government offices. The general Information Desk can be contacted at 720-913-6010, while the Office of the Chief of Police can be reached at 720-913-6527.
The headquarters primarily contains administrative offices and specialized departmental units. It is not necessary to travel to police headquarters when an officer is needed at an incident location.
Call 911 when:
- A crime is currently happening.
- Someone is injured or in immediate danger.
- A weapon is involved.
- A serious traffic collision has occurred.
- Urgent police, medical or fire assistance is required.
For a non-emergency police matter within Denver, call 720-913-2000. This number may be used for incidents that have already ended, suspicious activity without an immediate danger, neighbourhood disturbances and other situations where an officer may be required.
Important Denver Police Phone Numbers
The Denver Police Department uses separate telephone numbers for different services. Calling the correct number can help residents receive assistance more quickly.
The Telephone Reporting Unit can be reached at 720-913-1460. It assists residents who need to report certain non-emergency incidents or who are unable to complete an eligible online report.
The Victim Assistance Unit can be contacted at 720-913-6035. It provides crisis support, information about victims’ rights, referrals to community services and assistance communicating with investigators and other criminal-justice agencies.
Anonymous information about criminal activity may be given through Denver Crime Stoppers by calling 720-913-7867. This tip line should not be used when urgent police assistance is needed.
For police-record enquiries, call 720-913-6755. People seeking help locating a traffic-crash report or case number may call 720-913-6029.
Denver Police District Stations
The Denver Police Department divides the city into six geographic police districts. Each district has patrol officers, detectives and community-resource personnel who handle calls and public-safety concerns within its assigned area.
| Police district | Address | Phone number |
| District One | 1311 West 46th Avenue, Denver, CO 80211 | 720-913-0400 |
| District Two | 3921 North Holly Street, Denver, CO 80207 | 720-913-1000 |
| District Three | 1625 South University Boulevard, Denver, CO 80210 | 720-913-1300 |
| District Four | 2100 South Clay Street, Denver, CO 80219 | 720-913-0200 |
| District Five | 12025 East 45th Avenue, Denver, CO 80239 | 720-913-1400 |
| District Six | 1566 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80203 | 720-913-2800 |
District boundaries do not always match ZIP codes or commonly recognised neighbourhood boundaries. A resident who does not know which district covers an address can contact the non-emergency number and provide the exact location of the incident.
Services Available Through District Stations
Denver’s district stations perform more than routine patrol work. They serve as local contact points for residents, business owners and community organisations.
District personnel may assist with:
- Non-emergency crime reports
- Neighbourhood safety concerns
- Crime-prevention information
- Community meetings
- Traffic complaints
- Recurring nuisance problems
- Local investigation follow-ups
- Requests for community-resource officers
Community Resource Officers work with neighbourhood groups, schools and businesses to address repeated public-safety problems. They may provide guidance on fraud prevention, property security, nuisance properties, neighbour disputes and local crime trends.
Denver also operates several police storefronts or “Cop Shops.” These facilities provide limited community-policing services and may accept selected reports or complaints. They are not full-service police stations and should not be used as substitutes for 911 or emergency dispatch.
Denver Police Department Divisions and Specialized Units
The six patrol districts are supported by several investigative and specialized divisions. Cases may be transferred from a patrol officer to a detective or specialized unit depending on the type and seriousness of the offence.
Major investigative areas include:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault
- Missing persons
- Financial crimes
- Auto theft
- Narcotics
- Gang-related crime
- Property crime
Operational units include SWAT, K-9 teams, bomb technicians, traffic investigators and other specialized response personnel. The department also maintains records, forensic, evidence, training, internal-affairs and victim-assistance functions.
Denver International Airport has its own police operations under the broader Denver Police Department structure. Although the airport is separated geographically from central Denver, it remains within the City and County of Denver.
What County Is the Denver Police Department In?
The Denver Police Department operates within the City and County of Denver.
Denver is different from cities that are located inside a separately governed county. It has a consolidated city-and-county government, meaning both jurisdictions share the same boundaries and government structure.
DPD’s authority generally covers locations within the City and County of Denver. Nearby cities such as Aurora, Lakewood, Englewood, Commerce City, Arvada and Westminster have their own law-enforcement agencies.
A crime or incident must normally be reported to the agency responsible for the location where it happened. A person should not file a Denver police report for an incident that occurred in another city unless instructed to do so by law enforcement.
How to File a Denver Police Report
Denver residents can report some non-emergency incidents online. The incident must have occurred within the City and County of Denver, and it must no longer be in progress.
Eligible online reports may include:
- Theft
- Theft from a vehicle
- Identity theft
- Lost property
- Vandalism
- Illegal dumping
- Lost or stolen payment cards
- Certain storage-unit or detached-garage burglaries
Online reporting should not be used when:
- Someone is in immediate danger.
- The incident involves violence.
- The suspect is known.
- The suspect’s vehicle or licence plate is known.
- A firearm was lost or stolen.
- A motor vehicle was stolen.
- The incident happened outside Denver.
- The report concerns a traffic collision.
When the suspect is known or important evidence is available, call 720-913-2000 so an officer can determine the correct reporting procedure.
Reporting a Vehicle Crash
Vehicle crashes are handled differently from ordinary online crime reports.
Call 911 when a crash involves:
- Injuries
- A suspected impaired driver
- A hit-and-run driver
- A serious road hazard
- Major damage
- An aggressive or threatening person
During severe weather, Denver may place the city under an Accident Alert. Under these conditions, officers may not respond to every minor crash. Drivers may be instructed to exchange insurance and contact information and submit a report through the appropriate state reporting system.
To obtain assistance with a Denver Police traffic-crash report or case number, contact the Records Section at 720-913-6029 during its listed business hours.
Reports submitted directly through Colorado’s state crash-reporting system may need to be obtained from the state rather than the Denver Police Department.
How to Obtain Denver Police Records
The Denver Police Department releases eligible police records under Colorado law. Available documents may include:
- Offence reports
- Arrest records
- Arrest photographs
- Traffic-crash reports
- Police-clearance letters
- 911 recordings
- Dispatch records
- Selected incident documents
People requesting a report should provide as much information as possible, including the case number, date, incident address and names of the people involved.
Not every record is available in full. Information may be removed or withheld when it involves:
- Juveniles
- Protected victims
- Confidential personal information
- Medical information
- Active investigations
- Evidence that cannot legally be released
Some records can be requested online or by mail, while certain services may require an in-person visit. Processing times depend on the type and size of the request.
Denver Police Department and Denver Sheriff Department
The Denver Police Department and Denver Sheriff Department are separate agencies with different responsibilities.
The Denver Police Department:
- Responds to emergency calls
- Patrols neighbourhoods
- Investigates crimes
- Enforces traffic laws
- Makes arrests
- Provides crime-prevention services
The Denver Sheriff Department:
- Operates Denver detention facilities
- Supervises people held in custody
- Provides court security
- Transports inmates
- Handles certain civil and court duties
People searching for someone held in a Denver detention facility should use the city’s inmate-search service or call 720-913-3600.
The Denver County Jail Division may be contacted at 720-913-3642, while the Downtown Detention Center can be contacted at 720-337-0200.
Complaints and Commendations
A complaint or commendation involving a Denver police officer may be submitted through the Office of the Independent Monitor. The office can be contacted at 720-913-3306.
A person submitting a complaint should provide:
- The date and location of the incident
- The officer’s name or badge number, when known
- The police case number
- Names of witnesses
- Photographs or recordings
- A clear description of what occurred
Complaints may be referred to the appropriate internal investigative unit. The Office of the Independent Monitor reviews the disciplinary process and provides independent oversight of investigations involving police and sheriff personnel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I visit any Denver police district station to file a report?
A: A district station may help with a report or direct you to the correct service. However, an incident is usually handled most efficiently by the district responsible for the location where it occurred. Call 720-913-2000 when you are unsure which station to contact.
Q: Can I report a stolen vehicle online?
A: No. A stolen motor vehicle cannot be reported through the standard online crime-reporting system. Call 720-913-2000. Call 911 when the theft is currently happening or someone is in danger.
Q: What should I do if I know the identity of the suspect?
A: Do not submit a standard online report when the suspect is known. Call the non-emergency police number and provide the suspect’s name, description, vehicle information and any available evidence.
Q: Can Denver police take a report for an incident in Aurora or Lakewood?
A: Generally, no. Incidents should be reported to the law-enforcement agency responsible for the location where they occurred. Aurora and Lakewood operate their own police departments.
Q: Does the Denver Police Department operate the county jail?
A: No. Denver detention facilities are operated by the Denver Sheriff Department. Inmate information is available by calling 720-913-3600.
Q: How can I find out whether my vehicle was towed?
A: Call the Denver Police non-emergency number at 720-913-2000 or use Denver’s official impounded-vehicle search service. In some cases, a vehicle may have been relocated to a nearby legal parking space rather than taken to the impound facility.
Q: Can I get an unredacted report because I was involved in the incident?
A: Not necessarily. Being involved in an incident does not automatically provide access to every part of the report. Juvenile details, victim information, medical information and active investigative material may still be removed or withheld.
Q: Where should I report graffiti, abandoned vehicles or illegal parking?
A: Many non-urgent city-service complaints can be submitted through Denver 311. Call 311 from within Denver or 720-913-1311 from outside the city. Call 911 only when the situation presents an immediate safety threat.
Q: Can I obtain a statewide criminal-history report from Denver Police?
A: No. A Denver Police record search is generally limited to qualifying Denver records. Statewide criminal-history information may need to be requested from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Q: Are all services at police headquarters available 24 hours a day?
A: No. Emergency response and dispatch operate continuously, but records counters, administrative offices and complaint services may follow limited weekday schedules. Contact the relevant office before visiting.
Samantha Paul