Modesto Police Department: Address, Phone Number, Divisions and County

The Modesto Police Department, commonly known as MPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Modesto, California. It responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws and provides services involving crime prevention, traffic safety, narcotics enforcement, property and evidence, community policing and neighbourhood problem solving.

Modesto Police does not operate several traditional public precinct stations. Instead, the department divides the city into four Area Commands: Central, Northeast, Northwest and South. These geographic commands allow officers and supervisors to focus on neighbourhood-specific crime and quality-of-life concerns.

Residents should call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is in immediate danger or immediate police, fire or medical assistance is required. For situations requiring an officer that are not emergencies, the main non-emergency dispatch number is 209-552-2470.

Modesto Police Department Quick Information

Modesto Police Department Address

The Modesto Police Department is located at:

• 600 10th Street
• Modesto, California 95354

The main department telephone number is: 209-572-9500

For an officer to respond to a non-emergency situation, call: 209-552-2470

The main station contains police administration, Records, reporting services and several other department functions.

Regular public business hours for services such as police reports are generally Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. Patrol and emergency-response services operate around the clock.

Call 911 when:

• A crime is currently happening.
• Someone is injured or in immediate danger.
• A firearm or another dangerous weapon is involved.
• A suspect remains at or near the scene.
• A serious traffic crash has occurred.
• Immediate police, fire or medical help is required.
• A missing or vulnerable person may be in immediate danger.

For delayed incidents that still require police attention, use the non-emergency dispatch number.

Important Modesto Police Phone Numbers

Specialised unit numbers are primarily intended for information, case follow-up and administrative services. A new incident requiring an immediate police response should be reported through 911 or non-emergency dispatch.

Does Modesto Police Have Precincts?

Modesto Police does not use traditional numbered public precinct stations.

Instead, the department has established four geographic Area Commands:

• Central Area Command
• Northeast Area Command
• Northwest Area Command
• South Area Command

The Area Command system was created to improve communication between police and residents and to provide focused responses to neighbourhood crime and quality-of-life concerns.

Residents do not need to know which Area Command serves their address before contacting the police. Dispatch personnel can identify the appropriate officers using the exact location of the incident.

Police service boundaries do not necessarily match:

• ZIP codes
• School districts
• Postal mailing areas
• County districts
• Neighbourhood association boundaries

The exact street address is therefore important when requesting police assistance.

Central Area Command

The Central Area Command focuses on central sections of Modesto, including downtown and surrounding communities.

Officers and other personnel assigned to an Area Command can work on problems that may require more attention than routine patrol can provide but do not necessarily require a major detective investigation.

Issues may include:

• Repeated property crime
• Neighbourhood nuisance problems
• Illegal parking and abandoned vehicles
• Crime hot spots
• Park-related concerns
• Business safety problems
• Recurring disorder complaints

Area commanders use crime information and community feedback to identify problems and develop targeted responses.

Northeast Area Command

The Northeast Area Command serves neighbourhoods in northeastern Modesto.

Like the other Area Commands, its role extends beyond responding to individual calls. Officers can identify repeated crime patterns and coordinate longer-term problem-solving efforts.

The Area Command may work with:

• Residents
• Businesses
• Neighbourhood associations
• Crime analysts
• Community Service Officers
• Code Enforcement
• Park Rangers
• Other city departments

This approach allows recurring community problems to be addressed through a combination of enforcement and prevention.

Northwest Area Command

The Northwest Area Command focuses on communities in northwestern Modesto.

Personnel monitor crime trends, neighbourhood complaints and quality-of-life problems within their assigned area.

Crime analysis is an important part of this process. The department uses intelligence-led policing and regular crime-reduction reviews to decide where resources may be needed.

South Area Command

The South Area Command serves communities in southern Modesto.

Its officers and professional staff work on both law-enforcement issues and broader neighbourhood concerns.

Area Command personnel may coordinate with other agencies or city departments when a problem involves issues such as:

• Abandoned properties
• Illegal dumping
• Homelessness-related concerns
• Traffic problems
• Park safety
• Code violations
• Persistent criminal activity

Modesto Police Department Divisions

The department’s major organisational components include:

• Operations Division
• Investigative Services Division
• Support Division
• Area Command Division

Each has a different role in providing police services.

Operations Division

The Operations Division provides the core frontline police services in Modesto.

Uniformed patrol officers respond to 911 and non-emergency calls 24 hours a day.

Their duties include:

• Emergency response
• Preliminary criminal investigations
• Domestic-disturbance calls
• Suspicious-person reports
• Welfare checks
• Missing-person incidents
• Traffic enforcement
• Vehicle collision response
• Arrests
• Warrant-related activity
• Neighbourhood patrol

A patrol officer usually prepares the initial police report and gathers immediately available evidence and witness information.

Cases requiring additional investigation may later be assigned to detectives.

Investigative Services Division

The Investigative Services Division follows up on felony cases and other investigations referred by patrol officers.

The general Investigations contact is:

209-572-9551

Investigators may handle cases involving:

• Homicide
• Robbery
• Serious assault
• Burglary
• Auto theft
• Financial crime
• Sexual offences
• Crimes against children
• Domestic-related offences
• Gang activity
• Narcotics
• Major property crime

Detectives may conduct interviews, obtain warrants, examine surveillance footage, review digital evidence and prepare cases for presentation to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

People contacting an investigator about an existing case should have their police report or incident number available.

Area Command Division

The Area Command Division focuses heavily on problem solving and community engagement.

Its resources include personnel and programs such as:

• Crime Reduction Team
• Crime Prevention Unit
• Community Service Officers
• Crime analysts
• Park Rangers
• HEART
• Traffic Safety Unit
• Code Enforcement

Crime Reduction Team

The Crime Reduction Team addresses neighbourhood-specific criminal and quality-of-life issues.

Officers may conduct high-visibility enforcement in locations where crime analysis or community complaints identify recurring problems.

Park Rangers

Park Rangers patrol Modesto parks seven days a week.

They have limited municipal-code enforcement authority and work to improve safety and address problems affecting city parks.

HEART

The Home Engagement and Response Team, known as HEART, works on homelessness and related community problems.

It coordinates with social, medical and criminal-justice resources rather than relying only on traditional enforcement.

Traffic Safety Unit

The Traffic Safety Unit focuses on:

• Vehicle-code enforcement
• Collision reporting
• Major injury crashes
• Fatal collisions
• Traffic-safety grants
• Abandoned-vehicle problems

The Traffic Unit can be contacted at 209-342-9137.

Support Division

The Support Division provides essential services that allow officers and detectives to operate effectively.

Its functions include:

• Police Records
• Telephone Reporting
• Property and Evidence
• Information Technology
• Personnel and Training
• Background investigations
• Administrative services
• Parking Enforcement
• Animal Control

The division also supports recruitment and hiring for sworn officers and professional staff.

What County Is Modesto Police Department In?

Modesto is located in Stanislaus County, California.

The Modesto Police Department provides municipal law-enforcement services within the City of Modesto.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office is a separate agency. It provides law-enforcement services in many unincorporated areas, operates county detention facilities and performs other county-level duties.

Nearby communities may have their own police departments or may receive services from the Sheriff’s Office.

Other agencies that may operate in the area include:

• Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office
• California Highway Patrol
• California State University, Stanislaus Police
• Federal law-enforcement agencies

Incidents on state highways may fall under California Highway Patrol jurisdiction rather than MPD.

During an emergency, callers should dial 911 and provide the exact location so the appropriate agency can be dispatched.

How to File a Modesto Police Report Online

Modesto Police provides a Citizens Online Police Reporting System for qualifying non-emergency incidents.

The online system should not be used when:

• The situation is an emergency.
• Domestic violence is involved.
• Child abuse is involved.
• Elder abuse is involved.
• A motor vehicle has been stolen.

All reports submitted online are reviewed by department personnel.

If further investigation is necessary, the reporting person may be contacted. Filing an online report does not automatically mean that a detective will conduct additional investigation.

A false police report is a criminal offence.

When an incident does not qualify for online reporting, contact:

Non-emergency dispatch: 209-552-2470

or

Telephone Reporting Unit: 209-572-9573

The Telephone Reporting Unit generally operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Telephone Police Reports

Certain non-emergency incidents may be handled by telephone rather than requiring an officer to visit the location.

The Telephone Reporting Unit can be contacted at: 209-572-9573

Police personnel determine whether the circumstances qualify for telephone reporting or whether an officer needs to respond.

This option can be useful when:

• The incident is no longer occurring.
• No one is in immediate danger.
• There is no urgent need to collect evidence at the scene.
• The report is primarily needed for documentation or follow-up.

Call non-emergency dispatch when uncertain which reporting method is appropriate.

Reporting a Stolen Vehicle

A stolen vehicle should not be submitted through Modesto’s ordinary online reporting system.

Contact the Telephone Reporting Unit or non-emergency dispatch.

Be prepared to provide:

• Vehicle identification number
• Licence plate number
• Year, make and model
• Vehicle colour
• Registered owner’s information
• Last known location
• Approximate time the vehicle disappeared
• Information about available keys
• GPS or tracking information when available

Before reporting a vehicle stolen, check whether it may have been:

• Towed
• Repossessed
• Moved by a family member or another authorised person

Call 911 when the vehicle is being stolen at that moment or the incident involves violence or an immediate threat.

Obtaining a Modesto Police Report

Police reports can be obtained from:

• Modesto Police Department
• 600 10th Street
• Modesto, CA 95354

The Records counter is generally open:

• Monday through Friday
• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For report information, call: 209-572-9580

A person requesting a police report must generally provide:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone number
• Reason for requesting the report
• Photo identification

The current copying charge is generally $0.10 per page plus applicable tax.

Some reports can be released immediately. Others require supervisor or Juvenile Court approval and may take up to approximately ten days before release.

A defendant in a criminal case may have to complete a specific written request.

Information may also be withheld or redacted when disclosure is restricted under California law.

Traffic Collision Reports

Traffic collision reports generally require at least five working days before they are available.

Reports involving injuries or fatalities can take considerably longer.

For traffic collision report information, call: 209-572-9592

When requesting a collision report, provide:

• Collision date
• Location
• Driver names
• Vehicle information
• Police report number when available

Serious crashes may remain under investigation for an extended period.

Property and Evidence

The Modesto Police Property and Evidence Unit stores and preserves thousands of pieces of evidence and other property.

The unit can be contacted at: 209-572-9601

Items held may include:

• Criminal evidence
• Found property
• Safekeeping property
• Recovered stolen items
• Firearms
• Electronic devices
• Currency
• Personal belongings

The unit maintains the chain of custody for evidence that may later be presented in court.

A person seeking property should contact the unit before visiting.

The claimant may need:

• Government-issued photo identification
• Police case number
• Property receipt
• Proof of ownership
• Investigator or court authorisation

Property being held as evidence generally cannot be released while it remains necessary for an investigation or court proceeding.

Towed and Impounded Vehicles

Modesto Police may order a vehicle towed or stored for reasons including:

• Driving with a suspended licence
• Arrest-related circumstances
• Traffic hazards
• Abandoned vehicles
• Criminal investigations
• Certain vehicle-code violations

A vehicle stored for 30 days may qualify for a post-storage hearing.

The registered owner can visit the main police station and complete a Request for 30-Day Hearing form.

The owner is entitled to a hearing within 48 working hours of the request. A hearing officer determines whether the storage should continue or whether early release is permitted.

For hearing information, call: 209-342-6175

When a vehicle is eligible for release, the owner should generally visit the Police Department during regular business hours with:

• A licensed driver
• Proof of ownership or current registration
• Required police release fee
• Other documentation requested by MPD

The current vehicle-release charge listed by the department is $250.

Towing and storage charges imposed by the towing company are separate from the Police Department release fee.

A vehicle held as evidence cannot be released until the investigating officer removes the hold.

Modesto Police and Stanislaus County Jail

Modesto Police makes arrests but does not operate the Stanislaus County detention system.

County detention facilities are operated by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.

A major booking and detention facility is:

• Sheriff’s Detention Center – East
• 200 E. Hackett Road
• Modesto, California 95358

The telephone number is: 209-525-5630

Sheriff’s Detention Center – East serves as a booking and releasing facility and contains maximum-security, medical and mental-health housing.

The Sheriff’s Office also operates other detention units at the Hackett Road complex.

The public can use the Sheriff’s Office inmate-search system to check whether someone is currently in custody.

Information may include:

• Booking date
• Arresting agency
• Booking number
• Custody information
• Current facility

A person arrested only minutes earlier may not appear immediately while booking and identification procedures are completed.

For jail, visitation or inmate questions, contact the Sheriff’s Office rather than Modesto Police.

Complaints About Modesto Police Employees

Complaints involving Modesto Police officers or other department employees can be submitted through the department’s citizen complaint process.

Internal Affairs can be contacted at: 209-572-9615

The department also provides an online Citizen Commendation/Complaint Form.

A complaint should provide as much useful information as possible, including:

• Incident date and time
• Exact location
• Employee’s name when known
• Badge or vehicle number
• Police case number
• Witness names
• Photographs or video
• A clear description of what occurred

A person can still make a complaint when the officer’s name is unknown. The location, date, time, vehicle information and physical description may help identify the employee.

The same system can also be used to submit a commendation for an employee who provided particularly helpful or professional service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Modesto Police have precinct stations?

A: No. Modesto Police does not use traditional public precincts. The city is organised into four Area Commands: Central, Northeast, Northwest and South.

Q: What is the Modesto Police non-emergency number?

A: The non-emergency dispatch number for an officer response is 209-552-2470. The main Police Department business number is 209-572-9500.

Q: Can I file a stolen vehicle report online?

A: No. Stolen vehicle reports are excluded from the ordinary online reporting system. Contact non-emergency dispatch or the Telephone Reporting Unit for instructions.

Q: How do I obtain a Modesto police report?

A: Visit the Police Department at 600 10th Street during regular business hours or contact Police Reports at 209-572-9580. Some reports are immediately available, while others may require up to ten days for approval.

Q: Does Modesto Police operate the Stanislaus County jail?

A: No. County detention facilities are operated by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Detention Center – East is located at 200 E. Hackett Road in Modesto and can be contacted at 209-525-5630.