By Amelia Anderson The Detroit Police Department, commonly known as DPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City of Detroit, Michigan. Its responsibilities include emergency response, neighbourhood patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, victim assistance and public-safety services.
Detroit Police operates through numbered precincts and a separate Downtown Services unit. Residents should call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is in immediate danger or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is required. For incidents that have already occurred and do not present an immediate threat, residents can contact Telephone Crime Reporting or visit a Detroit police precinct.
Detroit Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Detroit Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | DPD |
| Headquarters facility | Detroit Public Safety Headquarters |
| Headquarters address | 1301 Third Street, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Chief of Police Office | 313-596-1800 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Telephone Crime Reporting | 313-267-4600 |
| Prisoner Information Hotline | 313-267-4601 |
| Records and report information | 313-596-1908 |
| Victim Assistance Program | 313-833-1660 |
| Professional Standards | 313-596-2447 |
| Police misconduct complaints | 313-596-2499 |
| Auto Pound | 313-596-2882 |
| Vehicle towing and impound enquiries | 313-596-8832 |
| Crime Stoppers | 1-800-773-2587 |
| County | Wayne County |
| Local patrol structure | 11 numbered precincts and Downtown Services |
| Wayne County Adult Detention Facility | 313-202-7155 |
Detroit Police Department Headquarters Address
The Detroit Police Department’s administrative headquarters is located at:
- Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, 1301 Third Street, Detroit, Michigan 48226
The facility is shared by major public-safety and administrative operations. It includes the Office of the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners and several specialised or departmental offices.
The Office of the Chief of Police can be contacted at 313-596-1800. This number is intended primarily for administrative matters. It should not be used when an officer needs to be sent to an incident.
Anyone requiring an immediate police response should call 911. For a past incident or another non-emergency matter, contact Telephone Crime Reporting at 313-267-4600 or call the appropriate police precinct.
Emergency and Non-Emergency Police Numbers
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.
- A fire or medical emergency exists.
- Illegal dumping or another dangerous act is in progress.
- A downed electrical wire or burning utility pole presents a hazard.
For incidents that are no longer happening, call Telephone Crime Reporting at 313-267-4600.
This number can be used to:
- Report certain crimes that have already occurred
- Report an abandoned vehicle
- Make a noise complaint
- Report neighbour trouble
- Report illegal dumping that is no longer in progress
- Report cable or utility theft
- Obtain initial information about someone in police custody
- Ask how to report a stolen vehicle
Telephone Crime Reporting staff may complete the report, direct the caller to a precinct or explain which agency is responsible for the matter.
Detroit Police Precincts
Detroit currently operates Downtown Services and 11 numbered precincts, beginning with the 2nd Precinct and continuing through the 12th Precinct. The former 1st Precinct is not listed as a separate current patrol facility; downtown policing is handled through Downtown Services and related precinct operations.
| Police facility | Address | Phone number |
| Downtown Services | 20 Atwater Street, Detroit, MI 48226 | 313-237-2850 |
| 2nd Precinct | 13530 Lesure Street, Detroit, MI 48227 | 313-596-5200 |
| 3rd Precinct | 2875 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48202 | 313-596-5300 |
| 4th Precinct | 4700 West Fort Street, Detroit, MI 48209 | 313-596-5400 |
| 5th Precinct | 3500 Conner Street, Detroit, MI 48215 | 313-596-5500 |
| 6th Precinct | 11450 Warwick Street, Detroit, MI 48228 | 313-596-5600 |
| 7th Precinct | 3501 Chene Street, Detroit, MI 48207 | 313-596-5700 |
| 8th Precinct | 21555 West McNichols Road, Detroit, MI 48219 | 313-596-5800 |
| 9th Precinct | 11187 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit, MI 48213 | 313-596-5900 |
| 10th Precinct | 12000 Livernois Avenue, Detroit, MI 48206 | 313-596-1000 |
| 11th Precinct | 5100 East Nevada Street, Detroit, MI 48234 | 313-596-1100 |
| 12th Precinct | 1441 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203 | 313-596-1200 |
Precinct boundaries do not always match ZIP codes, neighbourhood names or City Council districts. Residents should use the City of Detroit precinct-search service or provide the exact incident address when calling Telephone Crime Reporting.
What Services Do Police Precincts Provide?
Detroit’s precincts operate as local police-service centres. Patrol officers assigned to each precinct respond to emergency and non-emergency calls in their area.
Precinct personnel may help with:
- Filing eligible police reports
- Reporting lost or stolen property
- Reporting vehicle theft
- Neighbourhood crime concerns
- Domestic disputes
- Traffic complaints
- Noise and nuisance complaints
- Abandoned vehicles
- Follow-up information for existing cases
- Community meetings and crime-prevention programs
Each precinct is divided into smaller neighbourhood areas. Neighborhood Police Officers are assigned to build long-term relationships with residents, schools, businesses and community organisations.
These officers often work on recurring problems that may not be resolved through a single emergency call. Examples include nuisance properties, repeated illegal dumping, abandoned buildings, chronic traffic problems and continuing disputes affecting neighbourhood safety.
Main Divisions and Specialised Units
Precinct patrol is only one part of the Detroit Police Department. The department also has specialised investigative and operational sections.
Major areas of work include:
- Homicide investigations
- Robbery investigations
- Domestic-violence cases
- Sexual-assault investigations
- Auto theft
- Gang investigations
- Narcotics enforcement
- Commercial auto theft
- Missing-person cases
- Crime analysis
- Traffic enforcement
- Professional Standards
- Records and Statistics
- Forensic and evidence services
The department also operates tactical and special-response teams for dangerous incidents. A case may begin with a precinct patrol officer and later be assigned to detectives or another specialised unit.
The Real Time Crime Center and Crime Analysis unit can be contacted at 313-596-2250, although this number is generally used for departmental or case-related purposes rather than filing a new report.
What County Is the Detroit Police Department In?
The Detroit Police Department is located in Wayne County, Michigan.
DPD’s jurisdiction is normally based on Detroit city limits rather than the whole of Wayne County. Other cities in the county, including Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, Taylor, Hamtramck and Highland Park, have their own police departments.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office performs separate county responsibilities. These include operating detention facilities, serving courts, transporting people in custody and providing certain county-level law-enforcement services.
An incident that occurred outside Detroit should generally be reported to the police department or sheriff’s office responsible for the exact location.
How to File a Detroit Police Report
For a crime in progress or immediate danger, call 911.
For a past incident, call Telephone Crime Reporting at 313-267-4600. Depending on the type of incident and the available evidence, the caller may be instructed to visit a precinct.
When making a report, provide:
- The exact incident address
- Date and approximate time
- Names or descriptions of involved people
- Witness contact details
- Vehicle descriptions and licence plate numbers
- Photographs or video recordings
- Serial numbers for stolen property
- Receipts or proof of ownership
- Information about available physical evidence
Stolen vehicles require a different procedure. The registered vehicle owner must generally appear in person at a Detroit police precinct to complete a stolen-vehicle report. The owner should bring identification, registration details, the vehicle identification number and licence plate information.
Obtaining a Detroit Police Report
For general report information, contact the Records and Statistics section at 313-596-1908.
Routine records may include:
- Incident reports
- Arrest reports
- Motor-vehicle accident reports
- 911 audio
- Dispatch or CAD records
- Police dash-camera video
- Arrest photographs
Some records require a written request under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. A police FOIA request should describe the document clearly and include the date, time, incident location and names of people involved.
Written police-record requests are handled through the City of Detroit Law Department’s FOIA Division at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500, Detroit, MI 48226.
A report may be redacted or withheld when it contains juvenile information, protected victim details, confidential personal information or material connected with an active investigation.
Accident Reports
Detroit traffic-crash reports can normally be purchased through the department’s authorised online accident-report service. Processing fees may apply.
Reports may not become available immediately after the crash. The investigating officer must complete and submit the document before it can be released.
When a crash involves injuries, a suspected impaired driver, a hit-and-run vehicle or an immediate road danger, call 911. Drivers should not rely only on an online report when emergency assistance is needed.
Towed and Impounded Vehicles
For Auto Pound information, call 313-596-2882. Vehicle towing and impound enquiries may also be directed to 313-596-8832.
Before calling, have the following information available:
- Licence plate number
- Vehicle identification number
- Make, model and colour
- Registered owner’s name
- Location where the vehicle was last parked
- Approximate date and time it disappeared
Detroit uses several police and contracted towing locations. Owners should confirm the vehicle’s location before travelling to an impound lot.
Valid identification, proof of ownership and payment of applicable towing or storage charges may be required. Different procedures may apply when a vehicle is being held as evidence, connected to an investigation or recovered after being stolen.
Victim Assistance Services
The Detroit Police Victim’s Assistance Program can be contacted at 313-833-1660. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The program provides support to people and families affected by sexual assault, domestic violence and homicide. Services may include confidential counselling, crisis support, referrals, assistance with victim-compensation applications and guidance through the criminal-justice process.
The program’s service location is at 4707 St. Antoine Street, Suite M-167, Detroit, MI 48201.
Detroit Police and Wayne County Jail Services
Detroit Police officers investigate crimes and make arrests, but DPD does not operate the main Wayne County jail.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office manages the county’s Adult Detention Facility at the Criminal Justice Center:
- 5301 Russell Street
- Detroit, Michigan 48211
The Adult Detention Facility can be contacted at 313-202-7155. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office main number is 313-833-0864.
Detroit Police also provides a Prisoner Information Hotline at 313-267-4601. This may be useful shortly after an arrest when the person has not yet appeared in the county’s inmate-search system.
Complaints About Detroit Police Conduct
Complaints involving Detroit police officers or other department employees can be submitted to the Office of the Chief Investigator.
The office is located at:
- 900 Merrill Plaisance Street
- Detroit, Michigan 48203
The complaint number is 313-596-2499.
The Office of the Chief Investigator operates under the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners and provides civilian investigation of complaints against DPD personnel. Complaints may concern officer conduct, improper treatment, unnecessary force, failure to provide service or another alleged policy violation.
The department’s Professional Standards section can also be contacted at 313-596-2447.
A complaint should include the date, time, location, officer’s name or badge number when known, witness information and a clear description of what happened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is there no current 1st Precinct in the Detroit precinct list?
A: Detroit’s current public directory begins with the 2nd Precinct. Downtown Services at 20 Atwater Street handles central downtown police services, while surrounding areas are covered through existing precinct boundaries.
Q: Can I report a stolen vehicle by telephone?
A: The owner can call Telephone Crime Reporting for guidance, but the registered owner generally must appear in person at a Detroit police precinct to complete the official stolen-vehicle report.
Q: Can I file a report at a precinct outside my neighbourhood?
A: A Detroit precinct may provide assistance, but the incident will usually be handled by the precinct covering the location where it occurred. Calling 313-267-4600 first can prevent an unnecessary trip.
Q: How can I find out whether someone was recently arrested?
A: Call the DPD Prisoner Information Hotline at 313-267-4601. For someone transferred to the Wayne County Adult Detention Facility, use the county’s inmate-search service or call the facility.
Q: Does Detroit Police operate the Wayne County jail?
A: No. Wayne County detention services are managed by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Detroit Police may temporarily hold or process a person before transfer.
Q: What should I do if my vehicle is missing?
A: Call the towing and impound line to check whether the vehicle was removed. When there is no towing record and theft is suspected, contact police and visit a precinct to complete a stolen-vehicle report.
Q: Can I obtain body-camera video with an ordinary report request?
A: Body-camera, dash-camera, 911 and dispatch records may require a written FOIA request. Availability depends on retention rules, privacy restrictions and whether release could affect an investigation.
Q: Can Detroit Police take a report for an incident in Dearborn?
A: Generally, no. Dearborn has its own police department. The report should normally be made to the agency responsible for the location where the incident occurred.
Q: Is the precinct phone number a substitute for 911?
A: No. Precinct numbers are useful for local information and non-urgent matters. Call 911 during a crime in progress or whenever someone faces immediate danger.
Q: Can a person complain about an officer without knowing the officer’s name?
A: Yes. Provide the incident date, time, location, police vehicle number, physical description and any report number. Investigators may use those details to identify the employee involved.
Samantha Paul