By Amelia Anderson The Gainesville Police Department, commonly known as GPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Gainesville, Florida. The department responds to emergency and non-emergency calls, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws and provides specialized services involving patrol, criminal investigations, narcotics, traffic enforcement, forensics, property and evidence, records and community policing.
GPD is led by Police Chief Nelson Moya. The department operates from its headquarters on NW 8th Avenue and divides regular patrol coverage into two geographic districts. District 1 generally covers the portion of Gainesville west of 13th Street, while District 2 covers the area east of 13th Street.
Residents should call 911 for emergencies and crimes in progress. The dispatch non-emergency number is 352-955-1818.
Gainesville Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Gainesville Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | GPD |
| Police chief | Nelson Moya |
| Headquarters address | 545 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Dispatch non-emergency | 352-955-1818 |
| GPD Front Desk | 352-393-7500 |
| Police Records | 352-393-7565 |
| Crime Tip Line | 352-393-7700 |
| Property and Evidence | 352-393-7540 |
| Patrol districts | Two |
| District 1 | Primarily west of 13th Street |
| District 2 | Primarily east of 13th Street |
| County | Alachua County |
| Alachua County Jail | 3333 NE 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32609 |
| Jail main number | 352-491-4444 |
Gainesville Police Department Address
Gainesville Police Department headquarters is located at:
- 545 NW 8th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32601
The GPD Front Desk number is: 352-393-7500
The department lists its Front Desk hours as Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding observed holidays.
For a non-emergency police response, call: 352-955-1818
Call 911 when a crime is currently happening, someone is injured or in immediate danger, a weapon is involved or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is needed.
Important Gainesville Police Phone Numbers
| Police service | Phone number |
| Emergency assistance | 911 |
| Dispatch non-emergency | 352-955-1818 |
| GPD Front Desk | 352-393-7500 |
| Police Records | 352-393-7565 |
| Crime Tip Line | 352-393-7700 |
| Property and Evidence | 352-393-7540 |
| Alachua County Jail | 352-491-4444 |
Specialized numbers are intended mainly for records, tips, property questions and administrative services. A new incident requiring an officer should normally be reported through 911 or the non-emergency dispatch number.
Gainesville Police Districts
The GPD Operations Bureau provides 24-hour patrol service throughout Gainesville. Patrol coverage is divided into two geographic districts.
District 1 primarily covers areas west of 13th Street to the Gainesville city limits.
District 2 primarily covers areas east of 13th Street to the city limits.
Residents do not need to know their district before calling police. Dispatchers use the incident location to determine the appropriate patrol response.
Operations Bureau and Patrol
The Operations Bureau is the largest operational component of GPD. Patrol officers respond to calls for service and conduct proactive police work throughout the city.
Typical patrol responsibilities include:
- Responding to 911 and non-emergency calls
- Conducting preliminary criminal investigations
- Handling disturbances and suspicious activity
- Responding to violent and property crimes
- Making arrests
- Conducting welfare checks
- Enforcing state laws and city ordinances
- Providing neighborhood patrol
- Assisting at traffic incidents
The first responding officer generally completes the initial report and collects immediately available evidence. Cases needing additional investigation may be assigned to detectives or a specialized unit.
Gainesville Police Department Bureaus and Units
GPD’s current structure includes the Operations Bureau, Investigations Bureau and Patrol Support Bureau, along with specialized units such as Traffic.
The Patrol Support Bureau manages functions that support day-to-day police work, including Records, Property and Evidence, information technology, fleet and other administrative services.
The Investigations Bureau includes Criminal Investigations, Special Investigations, the Forensic Crime Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Criminal Investigations Division
The Criminal Investigations Division handles cases requiring extended detective work.
Its responsibilities include investigations involving:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Sexual offenses
- Child abuse
- Aggravated assault and battery
- Burglary
- Grand theft
- Fraud and forgery
- Vehicle theft
- Domestic violence
- Missing persons
- Arson and computer crime
Detectives may interview witnesses and suspects, review digital and physical evidence and coordinate with prosecutors. The division also conducts compliance work involving pawn shops, secondhand dealers and registered sexual offenders or predators.
Special Investigations and Forensic Services
The Special Investigations Division participates in the Gainesville-Alachua County Drug Task Force alongside other local and state law-enforcement agencies. Its work includes investigations of street-level narcotics activity as well as larger drug-distribution cases.
The Forensic Crime Unit supports major investigations by photographing and documenting crime scenes, collecting evidence, processing latent fingerprints and examining certain evidence in its laboratory.
GPD also hosts the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which works on technology-related offenses involving children.
Gainesville Police Traffic Unit
The Traffic Unit focuses on reducing traffic injuries and fatalities through enforcement, education and crash investigation.
Its work includes:
- Speed and traffic-law enforcement
- Responding to traffic complaints
- Traffic-safety education
- Motorcycle enforcement
- Bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts
- Impaired-driving enforcement
- Serious and fatal crash investigation
The unit also works with the city’s traffic engineering staff and participates in Gainesville’s Vision Zero safety efforts.
Property and Evidence
The Property and Evidence Section receives, stores and disposes of evidence and property submitted by department members. It also maintains the chain of custody for items connected to criminal cases.
The section can be contacted at: 352-393-7540
Property and Evidence is generally open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Property held as evidence cannot normally be released until the detective or State Attorney handling the case authorizes its return. A valid photo ID is required when retrieving released property.
What County Is Gainesville Police Department In?
Gainesville is located in Alachua County, Florida.
GPD provides municipal law-enforcement services within Gainesville city limits. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is a separate agency responsible for county-level law enforcement and operation of the Alachua County Jail.
The University of Florida Police Department also has jurisdiction on university property and works with GPD in areas where university and city public-safety responsibilities interact.
How to File a Gainesville Police Report Online
GPD provides online reporting for qualifying non-emergency incidents.
The online system can be used only when the incident occurred within Gainesville city limits, there is no known suspect, there is no possibility of injury or immediate harm and no firearm was involved.
Eligible categories include:
- Criminal mischief or vandalism
- Damaged or lost property
- Certain credit-card fraud
- Harassing phone calls
- Certain prepaid-card scams
- Theft within the online reporting limit
- Identity theft
- Retail theft
All online reports are reviewed. If additional investigation is required, the reporting person may be contacted.
For incidents involving a known suspect, a crime scene with evidence, a firearm or an immediate safety concern, call 352-955-1818 or 911 as appropriate.
Obtaining Gainesville Police Records
The GPD Records Section compiles, maintains and provides access to incident reports, traffic crash reports and other police records.
For questions about police public records, call: 352-393-7565
The department provides access to limited incident and arrest information through its Police to Citizen system. Public-record requests can also be submitted through the city’s records-request platform.
Useful information for a request includes the case number, incident date, location and names of people involved.
Gainesville Police and Alachua County Jail
Gainesville Police officers make arrests, but GPD does not operate the county jail.
The Alachua County Jail is operated by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and is located at:
- 3333 NE 39th Avenue
- Gainesville, Florida 32609
The jail’s main number is: 352-491-4444
The facility houses adult male and female inmates and provides booking, housing, classification, visitation and other detention services. The Sheriff’s Office also provides an inmate-search service for checking current custody information.
Complaints About Gainesville Police Employees
GPD accepts complaints involving department employees. A complaint may be made in writing, in person or by telephone.
Complaints can be submitted through the Gainesville Police Department Front Desk at 545 NW 8th Avenue or through the City of Gainesville Equal Opportunity Department.
Formal complaints are referred to Internal Affairs. Minor or informal complaints may be assigned to supervisors for review.
Useful information includes the date and time, location, employee name when known, police case number, witness information and any photographs, video or other evidence connected to the incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Gainesville Police non-emergency number?
A: The Gainesville Police dispatch non-emergency number is 352-955-1818. Call 911 for emergencies or crimes currently in progress.
Q: Where is Gainesville Police Department headquarters?
A: GPD headquarters is located at 545 NW 8th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32601. The Front Desk number is 352-393-7500.
Q: How many patrol districts does Gainesville Police have?
A: GPD Patrol is divided into two districts. District 1 primarily covers the area west of 13th Street, while District 2 primarily covers the area east of 13th Street.
Q: Can I file a Gainesville police report online?
A: Yes. GPD accepts online reports for several qualifying non-emergency incidents when there is no known suspect, no immediate danger and no firearm involvement.
Q: Does Gainesville Police operate the Alachua County Jail?
A: No. The Alachua County Jail is operated by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. It is located at 3333 NE 39th Avenue in Gainesville, and the main jail number is 352-491-4444.