By Amelia Anderson The New Haven Police Department (NHPD) is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City of New Haven, Connecticut. The department provides emergency response, neighbourhood patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, evidence management, victim services and community policing.
Use 911 when a situation demands immediate attention—for example, when a crime is underway, a person is being attacked or threatened, a weapon is present, or someone needs urgent medical assistance. For routine police calls and incidents that are not emergencies, call 203-946-6316.
NHPD operates through 10 geographic police districts, each with its own district manager and neighbourhood location. The department is currently led by Police Chief David Zannelli.
New Haven Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | New Haven Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | NHPD |
| Headquarters | 1 Union Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency number | 203-946-6316 |
| Office of the Chief | 203-946-6333 |
| Police chief | David Zannelli |
| Records Division | 203-946-6312 |
| Accident Reports | 203-946-6252 |
| Internal Affairs | 203-946-6249 |
| Property and Evidence | 203-946-6245 |
| Investigative Services | 203-946-2875 |
| Booking | 203-946-7607 |
| Victim Services | 203-946-5916 |
| Anonymous tip line | 203-946-6296 |
| Police districts | 10 |
| County | New Haven County |
| State correctional facility | New Haven Correctional Center |
| Correctional center phone | 203-974-4111 |
The department’s current contact directory lists the main police, Records, Internal Affairs, Property and Evidence, Booking and investigative numbers above.
New Haven Police Department Address
The principal police facility is:
- 1 Union Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut 06519
- Non-emergency: 203-946-6316
The headquarters building houses the Office of the Chief and several administrative, investigative and operational services.
Residents may contact the department for matters such as:
- Delayed crime reports
- Existing case information
- Police-record requests
- Lost or recovered property
- Accident-report information
- Complaints about police conduct
- Victim-service assistance
- Questions about a recently arrested person
Anonymous information may be submitted through the department’s tip line at 203-946-6296 or 1-866-888-TIPS (8477). The department also publishes a text-tip option using “NHPD” followed by the message.
New Haven Police Districts
New Haven uses a strong neighbourhood-based policing model. The city is divided into 10 police districts, each overseen by a district manager.
| District | Area | Address | Contact |
| 1 | Downtown | 900 Chapel Street | 203-589-9048 |
| 2 | Westville | 329 Valley Street | 475-331-3088 |
| 3 | Hill South | 410 Howard Avenue | 475-331-3322 |
| 4 | Dwight/Chapel | 150 Edgewood Avenue | 475-331-3257 |
| 5 | Hill North | 90 Hallock Street | 475-331-3397 |
| 6 | Dixwell | 28 Charles Street | 203-584-3012 |
| 7 | Newhallville | 596 Winchester Avenue | 203-584-3012 |
| 8 | Fair Haven | 295 Blatchley Avenue | 475-355-6000 |
| 9 | East Shore | 830 Woodward Avenue | 475-224-0143 |
| 10 | Beaver Hills | 332 Whalley Avenue | 475-331-3139 |
The current district directory identifies these 10 locations and their district managers. District offices support neighbourhood problem-solving, community meetings and ongoing quality-of-life concerns.
Residents do not need to know their district before requesting police assistance. The non-emergency communications center can determine the appropriate police response from the exact incident address.
Patrol Operations
Patrol officers provide the department’s frontline response to crimes, disturbances, traffic incidents and other calls for service.
Their responsibilities generally include:
- Responding to emergency calls
- Protecting victims and injured people
- Securing crime scenes
- Searching for suspects
- Interviewing witnesses
- Collecting preliminary evidence
- Enforcing criminal and traffic laws
- Preparing initial police reports
- Conducting neighbourhood patrol
- Working with residents on recurring problems
New Haven’s district-based system is designed to strengthen community policing by assigning police leadership to specific neighbourhood areas.
The Patrol Division also includes specialized capabilities such as emergency services and detention supervision. The department currently lists a Patrol Commander, Emergency Services Unit and Detention Facility Supervisor within its patrol structure.
Investigative Services Division
Cases requiring further investigation may be assigned to the Investigative Services Division.
The division currently includes:
- Major Crimes
- Bureau of Identification
- Criminal Intelligence
- Financial Crimes
- Firearms investigations
- Fire Investigation
- Missing Persons
- Special Victims
- School Resource Officers
Investigators handle criminal activity committed by individuals as well as organized groups.
Major cases may involve homicide, serious assault, robbery, sexual offences, firearms crime, missing persons, financial offences or other complex investigations.
Not every police report automatically receives detective follow-up. The seriousness of the offence, available physical or digital evidence, suspect information and usable investigative leads can affect case assignment.
The Investigative Services Division specifically advises residents not to call individual investigative units to make the initial crime report. Emergencies should go through 911, while routine initial crime reports should be made through 203-946-6316.
Administrative Division
NHPD’s Administrative Division contains several important support functions, including:
- Records Division
- Body-Worn Camera program
- Information Technology
- Property Room
- Planning Division
The Records Division stores, maintains and releases police reports and arrest records under Connecticut public-record and records-retention requirements.
The Property Division is responsible for receiving, securing, storing and releasing criminal evidence as well as stolen and found property.
The Planning Division supports department technology, planning projects, crime analysis and intelligence analysis.
What County Is the New Haven Police Department In?
The New Haven Police Department is geographically located in New Haven County, Connecticut.
However, Connecticut is different from many states because its counties do not operate traditional county governments or county police departments.
NHPD is therefore a municipal police agency serving the City of New Haven, not a countywide police force.
Nearby municipalities—including West Haven, East Haven, Hamden, North Haven and Woodbridge—have separate law-enforcement arrangements. Yale University also operates its own police department with jurisdiction related to university property.
The precise incident location is important when determining which agency should handle a report.
Filing a New Haven Police Report
The most direct methods for initiating a police report are:
- Call 911 when immediate assistance is required
- Call 203-946-6316 for a routine police matter
- Contact or visit the Police Department when directed
- Use available Police-to-Citizen services when appropriate
The City of New Haven provides a Police-to-Citizen (P2C) Portal, but its official investigative-services guidance still directs residents to use 911 for emergencies and 203-946-6316 for routine initial crime reports.
Direct police contact is particularly important when:
- A suspect is known
- A suspect remains nearby
- Someone was injured
- A firearm or other weapon is involved
- A home or business was entered
- Physical evidence needs to be collected
- Surveillance footage identifies an offender
- A stolen vehicle has just been discovered
Keep the police report number after filing. It can be useful for insurance, report requests, investigator contact and submission of additional evidence.
Obtaining a New Haven Police Report
Police report requests are handled through:
- New Haven Police Records Division
- 1 Union Avenue
- New Haven, CT 06519
- Telephone: 203-946-6312
NHPD provides an online FOIA request process for incidents reported to the department.
Useful information includes:
- Full names of involved parties
- Incident date
- Approximate time
- Exact location
- Type of incident
- Police report number
The current standard report fee is $0.50 per page. Reports of 10 pages or fewer can be emailed without charge.
Some records may be withheld or redacted because Connecticut law protects information connected with active investigations, victims or other confidential material.
Traffic Accident Reports
Accident reports from 2022 onward are available through the department’s designated online provider.
Current base fees are:
- Confirmed involved party: $5
- Unconfirmed involved party: $13
NHPD recommends allowing approximately seven working days for a traffic accident report to be completed. A complete accident-reconstruction report has a substantially higher current fee of $525.
Property and Evidence
The Property and Evidence Unit can be contacted at:
203-946-6245
The unit handles:
- Criminal evidence
- Recovered stolen property
- Found property
- Property held for safekeeping
- Items awaiting court proceedings
The department’s Administrative Division states that the Property Division is responsible for the secure receipt, storage and release of most criminal evidence as well as stolen and found property.
Evidence connected with an active criminal case normally cannot be returned until the appropriate investigative or legal authority authorizes release.
A person seeking property should have identification, the police case number and proof of ownership available.
Towed Vehicles
A person who believes a vehicle was towed in New Haven can first search the city’s Citizen Connect system. If the vehicle cannot be located through that service, call NHPD at 203-946-6316. Police can confirm whether the vehicle was towed and explain why.
For certain parking-related tows, outstanding tickets or taxes must be resolved before the vehicle can be released.
The city currently lists a basic tow charge of $77, or $88 during a snow emergency, plus applicable surcharges and taxes. Storage charges apply after the first 24 hours.
Complaints About New Haven Police Employees
Complaints involving police officers are handled by the Internal Affairs Unit.
- Internal Affairs: 203-946-6249
A civilian complaint can be submitted online. The city also provides an alternate complaint location at:
- New Haven City Hall
- 165 Church Street
- New Haven, CT 06510
City Hall complaint service is generally by appointment through Internal Affairs, although walk-ins may be accepted when staff are present.
Useful complaint information includes:
- Date and time
- Exact location
- Officer’s name or description
- Badge number, if known
- Police vehicle information
- Case or citation number
- Witness details
- Photographs, audio or video
New Haven also has a Civilian Review Board, which reviews police-accountability matters and provides access to the civilian complaint process.
New Haven Detention and Correctional Center
NHPD has its own detention and booking functions. The department lists:
- Booking: 203-946-7607
- Detention Facility Supervisor: 203-946-6257
People requiring continued pretrial detention may enter the Connecticut Department of Correction system.
A major local facility is:
- New Haven Correctional Center
- 245 Whalley Avenue
- New Haven, CT 06511
- Telephone: 203-974-4111
The New Haven Correctional Center is a Level 4 high-security state facility that primarily houses pretrial detainees and serves courts in New Haven and several other Connecticut judicial areas. It is operated by the Connecticut Department of Correction, not by NHPD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the New Haven Police non-emergency number?
A: Call 203-946-6316 when police assistance is needed but the situation does not require an immediate emergency response.
Q: How many New Haven police districts are there?
A: NHPD currently operates 10 geographic police districts, including Downtown, Westville, Hill South, Dwight/Chapel, Hill North, Dixwell, Newhallville, Fair Haven, East Shore and Beaver Hills.
Q: Who is the current New Haven police chief?
A: David Zannelli is the current chief of the New Haven Police Department. The department’s current Office of the Chief page identifies him as Chief of Police.
Q: Does New Haven Police operate the New Haven Correctional Center?
A: No. NHPD handles police detention and booking functions, but the Connecticut Department of Correction operates the New Haven Correctional Center at 245 Whalley Avenue.