By Amelia Anderson The Montgomery Police Department (MPD) is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Montgomery, Alabama. Its responsibilities include emergency response, patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, community policing, forensic support, records services, specialized operations and operation of the city municipal jail.
For an emergency involving immediate danger, violence, a serious injury, a crime in progress or another urgent threat, call 911. For non-emergency police service, including suspicious activity, a non-emergency accident or a delayed break-in report, call 334-625-2651. The main department number for reaching an officer, detective or other personnel is 334-625-2532.
Montgomery Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Montgomery Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | MPD |
| Headquarters | 320 N. Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency dispatch | 334-625-2651 |
| Main department number | 334-625-2532 |
| Community Policing | 334-625-4800 |
| Crime Scene Investigators | 334-625-2075 |
| Secret Witness Line | 334-625-4000 |
| Records hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
| County | Montgomery County |
| City jail | Montgomery Municipal Jail |
| County detention facility | Mac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility |
| County detention phone | 334-832-4980 |
The headquarters main office and Records Bureau are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and are closed on weekends and legal holidays. Emergency and patrol services are available around the clock.
Montgomery Police Department Address
The main police headquarters is located at:
- Montgomery Police Department
- 320 N. Ripley Street
- Montgomery, Alabama 36104
- Main number: 334-625-2532
- Non-emergency: 334-625-2651
The public should use the main entrance on North Ripley Street for routine police business, Records matters and inquiries related to the municipal jail. For an active emergency, residents should call 911 rather than travel to headquarters.
Montgomery Police Department Organization
MPD divides its work among patrol, investigations, administrative services, traffic, training, community policing, forensic services and other specialized functions. The department also operates the Montgomery Municipal Jail.
Important operational areas include:
- Patrol Division
- Criminal Investigations
- Administrative Division
- Traffic Bureau
- Training and Recruiting
- Municipal Jail Division
- Community Policing
- Forensic Sciences and Crime Scene Investigation
- Special operations and specialized enforcement functions
Patrol Division
Patrol officers provide the department’s primary field response. They answer emergency and non-emergency calls, conduct preliminary investigations, enforce criminal and traffic laws, make arrests, protect crime scenes and provide a visible police presence throughout Montgomery.
For geographic policing purposes, MPD divides the city into two sectors. Sector A contains the North and West zones, while Sector B contains the South and East zones. The department also identifies Special Services for the River District.
Patrol responsibilities commonly include:
- Responding to 911 and dispatched calls for service
- Investigating disturbances, suspicious activity and reported crimes
- Taking initial statements from victims and witnesses
- Locating and detaining suspects when probable cause exists
- Handling traffic enforcement and crash-related duties
- Protecting crime scenes until investigators or forensic personnel arrive
- Coordinating with specialized units when a case requires additional resources
Criminal Investigations and Specialized Operations
Criminal investigators handle cases that require extended follow-up beyond the initial patrol response. Depending on the circumstances, investigators may work violent crimes, property crimes, domestic violence, juvenile matters and other serious or complex offenses.
Specialized operations can be used for targeted enforcement and higher-risk or recurring public-safety problems. The department also uses technology and specialized teams to support investigations and enforcement operations when necessary.
A person who has information about a crime but wishes to remain anonymous may use MPD’s Secret Witness Line at 334-625-4000. An anonymous-tip service should not be used instead of 911 when an emergency is unfolding.
Traffic Bureau
The Traffic Bureau focuses on roadway safety, traffic enforcement and traffic-collision responsibilities. Its work may include enforcement directed at speeding, reckless or impaired driving, serious crash investigation, traffic safety initiatives and support for major events or congestion issues.
Non-emergency traffic accidents may be reported through police dispatch at 334-625-2651 when an officer is needed. A crash involving injuries, immediate danger, blocked travel lanes or other urgent conditions should be reported through 911.
Administrative Division and Records
The Administrative Division supports department operations and includes functions such as the Records Bureau, front-desk services and municipal-jail administration. Residents often interact with these services when requesting incident reports, asking about records or making routine inquiries at headquarters.
The Records Bureau is located at 320 N. Ripley Street and operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Incident-report requests may also be submitted in writing by email to policerecords@montgomeryal.gov. Fees may apply to copies of reports.
Training and Recruiting
The Training and Recruiting function supports police academy instruction, recruitment, continuing education, field training, firearms qualification and professional development. MPD also provides training for personnel serving in municipal-jail, administrative and other department roles.
Training is important because officers must maintain knowledge of Alabama law, constitutional requirements, emergency driving, use-of-force rules, firearms, investigations and department policies throughout their careers.
Community Policing
MPD’s Community Policing programs are intended to connect residents and neighborhood organizations with police resources and crime-prevention services. The Community Policing office can be reached at 334-625-4800.
Programs and services include:
- Home security surveys for residents
- Neighborhood safety and crime-prevention assistance
- Community outreach and neighborhood activities
- Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
- Citizens and youth-oriented police programs
- Operation Good Shepherd partnerships with area clergy
- Explorer and youth programs
Community-policing programs are designed for prevention and long-term neighborhood engagement. They are not substitutes for emergency dispatch when immediate police intervention is required.
Forensic Sciences and Crime Scene Investigation
The Forensic Sciences function supports investigations through crime-scene processing, fingerprint examination and photography. Crime Scene Investigators can be contacted at 334-625-2075 for appropriate department-related inquiries.
Forensic responsibilities include:
- Processing major crime scenes
- Collecting and documenting physical evidence
- Fingerprint identification and latent-print comparison
- Crime-scene and evidence photography
- Digital-image and video enhancement support
- Providing expert testimony when required in court
Evidence collection at an active scene should be left to law-enforcement personnel. Residents should avoid touching or moving items that may have evidentiary value unless personal safety requires it.
What County Is Montgomery Police Department In?
The Montgomery Police Department is located in Montgomery County, Alabama. MPD is a municipal police agency serving the City of Montgomery, while the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is a separate county law-enforcement agency.
The distinction matters because the agencies have different responsibilities. MPD handles municipal policing inside Montgomery, while the Sheriff’s Office performs county sheriff functions and operates the Mac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility.
Filing a Montgomery Police Report
The City of Montgomery states that an official police report cannot be made by email. A report must be made in the presence of a police officer. For a non-emergency report, call the Communications Department at 334-625-2651 so that a police unit can be dispatched as appropriate.
Call 911 instead when:
- A crime is in progress
- Someone is injured or facing an immediate threat
- A weapon is involved
- A suspect is still at or near the scene and presents a danger
- A serious traffic crash creates an immediate hazard
- Urgent police, fire or medical assistance is needed
When making a delayed or non-emergency report, it is useful to have the incident address, approximate date and time, names or descriptions of involved people, vehicle information, photographs or video, and a list of stolen or damaged property available.
Obtaining a Montgomery Police Report
Incident reports are handled through the Montgomery Police Department Records Bureau at 320 N. Ripley Street. The bureau is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is a fee when requesting incident reports.
Written incident-report requests may be sent to policerecords@montgomeryal.gov. Traffic accident reports may also be purchased through the online crash-report service linked by the City of Montgomery.
A requester should provide as much identifying information as possible, such as:
- Police report or case number
- Incident or accident date
- Approximate time
- Location of the incident
- Names of involved people
- Type of report requested
Broader City of Montgomery public-record requests are handled through the City Clerk process. Access to law-enforcement information may be limited where state law or another legal restriction protects the material from disclosure.
Domestic Violence and Victim Resources
MPD’s Domestic Violence Bureau provides services to qualifying victims in domestic or dating relationships. Assistance can include safety planning, help with protection-order procedures, stalking-case analysis and support in preparing matters for prosecution.
Important contacts include:
- Domestic Violence Bureau: 334-625-2900
- Family Sunshine Center crisis resources: 1-800-650-6522
- One Place Family Justice Center: 334-262-7378
- Emergency danger: 911
A person facing immediate violence or an immediate threat should call 911. Victim-service and crisis lines are intended to provide additional support, planning and referrals.
Complaints About City or Police Personnel
The City of Montgomery Department of Inspector General receives personnel-related complaints, citizen complaints and allegations of misconduct involving City personnel. Complaints may be submitted by telephone, in person, by mail or through the City’s complaint form.
Department of Inspector General contact information:
- 300 Water Street, Suite 205
- Montgomery, AL 36104
- Telephone: 334-625-2490
A useful complaint should include the date and time, location, names or descriptions of involved employees, badge or vehicle information when known, witnesses and a clear account of what occurred. The City also permits anonymous complaints, although the amount of available information may affect whether an investigation can proceed effectively.
Montgomery Municipal Jail
The Montgomery Police Department operates a Municipal Jail for city prisoners and certain other inmates. Jail inquiries can be made through the police headquarters main entrance at 320 N. Ripley Street.
The municipal jail publishes separate visiting periods for federal inmates and city prisoners, city inmates serving sentences, and female inmates. Visitors must present valid photo identification, and cell phones and packages are not allowed in the jail. Because visitation rules and schedules can change, anyone planning a visit should confirm current requirements before arriving.
Mail for municipal-jail inmates is directed to P.O. Box-Drawer 159, Montgomery, AL 36101. The City states that packages are not accepted through the mail.
Montgomery County Detention Facility
County detention is handled separately from the Montgomery Police Department. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office operates the Mac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility.
- Mac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility
- 225 S. McDonough Street
- Montgomery, AL 36104
- Detention Center telephone: 334-832-4980
Once a detainee is in county custody, questions about inmate location, housing, detention status and county-facility procedures should be directed to Montgomery County rather than the city police Records Bureau.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Montgomery Police non-emergency number?
A: Call 334-625-2651 for non-emergency police service such as suspicious activity, a non-emergency accident or a delayed break-in report.
Q: Where is Montgomery Police headquarters?
A: The main headquarters is at 320 N. Ripley Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104.
Q: Can I make an official Montgomery police report by email?
A: No. The City states that official police reports cannot be made by email. Call 334-625-2651 to request a police unit for a non-emergency report.
Q: How can I get a copy of a Montgomery police report?
A: Incident reports are available through the MPD Records Bureau at headquarters. Written requests can also be sent to policerecords@montgomeryal.gov, and fees may apply.
Q: Does Montgomery Police operate a jail?
A: Yes. MPD operates the Montgomery Municipal Jail. Montgomery County separately operates the Mac Sim Butler Montgomery County Detention Facility.