By Amelia Anderson The Bloomington Police Department (BPD) is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Bloomington, Indiana. The department handles emergency response, uniformed patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, evidence collection and community-policing duties within the city.
Use 911 whenever the circumstances require officers immediately, such as an assault taking place, an armed threat, a break-in in progress, a serious injury or another situation where waiting could endanger someone. For non-emergency police assistance, call 812-339-4477. The same number is used when an incident does not qualify for Bloomington’s online reporting system.
BPD operates primarily from one central police headquarters rather than maintaining several public precinct stations. The department does, however, use internal geographic beats and dispatch zones to organize officer response throughout Bloomington.
Bloomington Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Bloomington Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | BPD |
| Headquarters | 220 E. Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47401 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency police number | 812-339-4477 |
| Police chief | Michael Diekhoff |
| Records | 812-349-3315 |
| Headquarters fax | 812-349-3353 |
| Geographic organization | Internal beats and dispatch zones |
| Public precinct stations | One principal police headquarters |
| Online reporting | Available for qualifying incidents |
| County | Monroe County |
| Indiana University Police | 812-855-4111 |
| Monroe County Sheriff non-emergency | 812-349-2781 |
| Monroe County Jail inmate information | 812-349-2750 |
| Jail address | 301 N. College Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404 |
The city continues to identify Michael Diekhoff as Bloomington Police Chief. He was serving in that position in April 2026 when he submitted the department’s report concerning automated licence-plate-reader use, and the city’s Police Pension Board also lists him as the police-chief ex-officio member.
Bloomington Police Department Address
The main police facility is located at: 220 East Third Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, Telephone: 812-339-4477
The Third Street facility serves as the department’s police headquarters and is the address currently published by the City of Bloomington for BPD operations, recruitment and public contact.
Residents may contact or visit the department for matters such as:
- Filing a police report
- Asking about an existing case
- Providing additional information
- Requesting police assistance for a delayed incident
- Asking about police records
- Reporting suspicious activity
- Seeking guidance about property or evidence
- Raising a concern about officer conduct
When the incident occurred outside Bloomington Police jurisdiction, BPD directs residents to the appropriate nearby agency. Its online reporting system specifically identifies the Indiana University Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police and Ellettsville Police Department as neighbouring law-enforcement agencies.
Bloomington Police Patrol and Geographic Beats
Bloomington does not use a system of several public police precinct buildings similar to cities such as New York or Charlotte.
Instead, BPD operates from its central headquarters while dispatch personnel and patrol supervisors divide the city into internal geographic districts, beats and grid sectors.
The city’s current Police Dispatch Zones dataset explains that these geographic areas are used in the local computer-aided dispatch system to define agency jurisdictions and internal police subdistricts or beats. The dataset was updated in May 2026.
BPD’s calls-for-service data also records the district or beat associated with individual police calls. The city gives an example such as “LB519,” where the coding identifies a Bloomington police district and grid sector.
Residents do not need to know this coding system before requesting assistance. Giving dispatch the complete street address is enough to determine which officers should respond.
Patrol Operations
Uniformed officers provide the first police response to most incidents within Bloomington.
Typical patrol responsibilities include:
- Responding to emergency calls
- Investigating disturbances
- Protecting victims
- Securing crime scenes
- Searching for suspects
- Interviewing witnesses
- Collecting preliminary evidence
- Enforcing criminal and traffic laws
- Making arrests when legally appropriate
- Conducting neighbourhood patrol
- Preparing initial police reports
BPD uses three work shifts, and officers meet for roll call before beginning their assignments. The department has also used mobile roll calls in Bloomington neighbourhoods as part of its effort to maintain communication between patrol officers and residents.
Criminal Investigations and Specialized Services
Cases that require more extensive work after the initial patrol response may be assigned to detectives or officers with specialized investigative training.
Investigations can involve crimes such as:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Serious assault
- Burglary
- Sexual offences
- Child abuse
- Domestic violence
- Narcotics offences
- Financial crimes
- Vehicle-related crimes
- Missing-person cases
The department’s training program confirms that BPD maintains specialized expertise in areas such as burglary, sex-crime investigations, child abuse, narcotics and financial crime.
Not every police report automatically receives extended detective follow-up. The seriousness of the offence, available evidence, suspect information, video evidence and other usable investigative leads can affect how a case is handled.
Police Training and Field Training
New Bloomington police officers complete an extensive hiring and training process.
Applicants must pass physical and written assessments, an oral board, a background investigation, truth-verification testing, medical and psychological requirements and approval through the Board of Public Safety.
New officers then attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, where training covers subjects such as:
- Criminal law
- Traffic law
- Firearms
- Emergency vehicle operations
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault
- Evidence collection
- Intoxicated-driver investigations
- Crime prevention
- Community policing
After the academy, new BPD officers complete a Field Training Program under experienced Field Training Officers before working independently. Indiana officers must also complete continuing education each year.
What County Is Bloomington Police Department In?
The Bloomington Police Department is located in Monroe County, Indiana.
BPD is a city police department, meaning its normal jurisdiction is Bloomington city limits. It is separate from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, which provides county-level law-enforcement and correctional services.
Other important local agencies include:
- Indiana University Police Department
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
- Indiana State Police
- Ellettsville Police Department
BPD’s online reporting portal specifically directs users to these agencies when an incident occurred outside Bloomington Police jurisdiction.
This distinction is particularly important around Indiana University. A location with a Bloomington mailing address may fall within university, county or city police jurisdiction depending on the exact property and circumstances.
Filing a Bloomington Police Report
Bloomington provides an online incident-reporting system for selected non-emergency crimes. The city’s current services directory identifies Police Online Incident Reporting as one of its public-safety services.
The incident must have occurred within Bloomington Police jurisdiction.
If the incident does not fit the online reporting criteria, BPD instructs residents to:
- Call 812-339-4477, or
- Report the incident in person at the police station.
Online reporting should not be used when immediate intervention is necessary.
Direct police contact is more appropriate when:
- A suspect is still present
- Someone was injured
- A weapon is involved
- Important physical evidence exists
- A stolen vehicle has just been discovered
- Security footage clearly identifies a suspect
- Officers need to examine the scene
After filing a report, keep the police case number. It makes later communication with Records or investigators easier.
Obtaining Bloomington Police Records
The department’s current employee directory identifies its Records section at Police Headquarters and lists:
Bloomington Police Records
220 E. Third Street
Bloomington, IN 47401
Records telephone: 812-349-3315
The city directory currently identifies Ellen Bennett as Records Supervisor and publishes 812-349-3315 as the public Records number.
A requester should be ready to provide:
- Police case number
- Incident date
- Approximate time
- Incident location
- Names of involved people
- Type of record requested
For broader public-record requests, the City of Bloomington directs residents to its public-records process, which is handled through the city’s Legal Department.
Police records may contain information that cannot legally be released, particularly when a case involves an active investigation, juveniles or other protected information.
Law-enforcement recordings can also involve separate processing costs. Bloomington amended its municipal rules so charges for police recordings must reflect the direct cost of providing the recording rather than a flat fee, with state law setting applicable limits.
Property, Evidence and Towed Vehicles
BPD officers may take custody of:
- Crime-scene evidence
- Recovered stolen property
- Found property
- Firearms
- Electronic devices
- Items seized during investigations
- Property needed for court proceedings
Property being held as evidence cannot normally be returned while investigators or prosecutors still require it.
Anyone attempting to recover property should first call 812-339-4477 and have the police case number, identification and proof of ownership available.
Vehicle towing can involve either police action or City Parking Services. Bloomington Parking Services maintains separate public information for vehicles removed because of parking-related enforcement and provides instructions for recovering a towed vehicle.
When a vehicle was towed following an arrest, collision or criminal investigation, contacting BPD first is the safest way to determine the responsible towing company and whether any police hold remains.
Complaints About Bloomington Police Officers
The Bloomington Police Department formally records citizen complaints alleging officer misconduct or violations of department rules.
The city maintains a public Citizen Complaints dataset containing information about formal complaints, the nature of the allegation and whether discipline was issued. The dataset was most recently updated on July 27, 2026.
A person wishing to raise a complaint should contact BPD at 812-339-4477 or visit Police Headquarters.
Useful information includes:
- Incident date and time
- Exact location
- Officer’s name or description
- Badge or vehicle information
- Police report or citation number
- Witness details
- Photographs or recordings
- A clear description of what happened
Even when the officer’s name is unknown, the incident time, location and police call information can help identify the employees involved.
Monroe County Jail Information
BPD does not operate the Monroe County Jail.
A person arrested by Bloomington Police who requires continued detention may be transferred to the Monroe County Correctional Center, operated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Monroe County Correctional Center
Charlotte T. Zietlow Justice Center
301 North College Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana 47404
Inmate information: 812-349-2750
The jail is the largest division of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and handles inmate supervision, booking and releases, transportation, court security and other correctional functions.
The Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch number is 812-349-2781.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Bloomington Police non-emergency number?
Call 812-339-4477 for a police matter that does not require an immediate emergency response.
Q2. Who is the current Bloomington Police chief?
Michael Diekhoff is the current Bloomington Police Chief. City records and April 2026 public-safety reporting continue to identify him in that role.
Q3. Can I file a Bloomington police report online?
Yes. BPD provides online incident reporting for qualifying non-emergency cases occurring within Bloomington Police jurisdiction. Incidents that do not meet the requirements should be reported at 812-339-4477 or in person.
Q4. Does Bloomington Police operate the Monroe County Jail?
No. BPD makes arrests and conducts investigations, while the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office operates the Monroe County Correctional Center at 301 N. College Avenue.