By Amelia Anderson The Tallahassee Police Department, commonly known as TPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Tallahassee, Florida. The department responds to emergency and non-emergency calls, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws and provides patrol, investigative, forensic, K-9, records, intelligence and community-policing services.
TPD operates from its headquarters on East 7th Avenue. Patrol coverage is organized through two major sectors, which are further divided into districts and smaller areas called beats. This structure helps officers focus on neighborhood-specific crime prevention and enforcement needs.
Residents should call 911 for emergencies or crimes in progress. For a non-emergency incident requiring police response, call 850-606-5800.
Tallahassee Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Tallahassee Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | TPD |
| Headquarters address | 234 East 7th Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32303 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency dispatch | 850-606-5800 |
| Police administrative number | 850-891-4200 |
| Records Unit | 850-891-4221 |
| Criminal Investigations Bureau | 850-891-4331 |
| Internal Affairs | 850-891-4321 |
| Cold Case Unit | 850-891-4462 |
| Patrol structure | Two sectors, divided into districts and beats |
| County | Leon County |
| Leon County Detention Center | 535 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304 |
| Detention Center phone | 850-606-3500 |
Tallahassee Police Department Address
Tallahassee Police Department headquarters is located at:
- 234 East 7th Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32303
The administrative police number is: 850-891-4200
For non-emergency incidents requiring an officer or police response, call: 850-606-5800
Call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is injured or in immediate danger, a weapon is involved, a serious traffic crash has occurred or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is needed.
Important Tallahassee Police Phone Numbers
| Police service | Phone number |
| Emergency assistance | 911 |
| Non-emergency dispatch | 850-606-5800 |
| Police administration | 850-891-4200 |
| Records Unit | 850-891-4221 |
| Criminal Investigations Bureau | 850-891-4331 |
| Internal Affairs | 850-891-4321 |
| Cold Case Unit | 850-891-4462 |
| Public Information Office | 850-891-4085 |
| Leon County Sheriff’s Office | 850-606-3300 |
| Leon County Detention Center | 850-606-3500 |
New incidents requiring an officer should normally be reported through 911 or the Consolidated Dispatch Agency non-emergency number rather than directly to a specialized unit.
Tallahassee Police Sectors, Districts and Beats
TPD divides its jurisdiction into two major patrol sectors. Those sectors are divided into districts, and the districts are further divided into smaller geographic sections called beats.
The beat system allows officers to become more familiar with specific neighborhoods, businesses and recurring public-safety concerns. It also supports meetings and partnerships between police officers, residents and local businesses.
Residents do not need to know their sector, district or beat before requesting assistance. Dispatchers use the incident location to determine the appropriate police response.
Operations Bureau and Patrol
The Operations Bureau is responsible for frontline patrol and neighborhood-level police services.
Patrol officers handle duties such as:
- Responding to 911 calls
- Handling non-emergency calls
- Conducting preliminary criminal investigations
- Responding to disturbances and suspicious activity
- Handling violent and property crimes
- Making arrests
- Conducting welfare checks
- Enforcing traffic laws
- Responding to vehicle crashes
- Neighborhood and business patrol
The first responding officer generally documents the incident and gathers immediately available information or evidence. Cases requiring extended investigation may be forwarded to detectives or specialized units.
Criminal Investigations Bureau
The Criminal Investigations Bureau handles crimes requiring additional follow-up after the initial patrol response.
Major investigative areas include:
- Property Crimes
- Burglary investigations
- Financial Crimes and Identity Theft
- Forensic Services
- Juvenile Services
- Violent Crimes
- Special Victims
- Robbery investigations
- Cold Cases
- Victim Advocacy
Investigators may interview victims, witnesses and suspects, review records and surveillance video, examine physical evidence and coordinate with other law-enforcement agencies.
For Criminal Investigations, call: 850-891-4331
People calling about an existing case should have the case number available whenever possible.
Property, Financial and Violent Crime Investigations
TPD has specialized investigators for different types of criminal activity.
Property investigators handle theft, criminal mischief, burglary and related offenses. Financial Crimes personnel investigate matters such as credit-card fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, forgery, counterfeiting, embezzlement and organized fraud schemes.
The Violent Crimes Unit handles serious crimes against people, while the Special Victims Unit investigates offenses involving sexual violence, child abuse, missing persons and other sensitive cases.
The Robbery Unit investigates robberies involving businesses and individuals, including home invasions and carjackings.
Forensic Services and Cold Cases
The Forensics Unit processes crime scenes and physical evidence. Its work includes fingerprint examination, forensic photography, biological evidence collection and other specialized crime-scene analysis.
TPD also maintains a Cold Case Unit responsible for reviewing unsolved homicides and missing-person cases.
The Cold Case Unit can be contacted at: 850-891-4462
Advances in forensic technology may allow investigators to re-examine older evidence and identify new investigative leads.
High Risk Offenders and Special Investigations
TPD’s High Risk Offenders Bureau includes specialized enforcement functions for serious and recurring criminal activity.
These functions include narcotics investigations, drug interdiction, technical operations, criminal intelligence, career-criminal enforcement and violent-crime response.
The Technical Operations Unit supports investigations involving digital evidence and specialized electronic equipment. Criminal Intelligence personnel help collect, analyze and share information about criminal threats and patterns.
TPD also maintains K-9 teams and other operational-support resources for searches, tracking and specialized enforcement.
Administrative Services and Records
Administrative Services includes important support functions such as Records, Property and Evidence, building and fleet services, financial management and department equipment.
The Records Unit maintains incident reports, arrest reports, crash reports and calls-for-service information.
The Records Unit is located at:
- 234 East 7th Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Records telephone: 850-891-4221
Public-record requests can be made online, by telephone, in person, by mail or through other methods provided by the City.
How to File a Tallahassee Police Report Online
TPD provides online reporting for qualifying non-emergency incidents.
Online reporting may be used when:
- The incident is not an emergency.
- It occurred within Tallahassee city limits.
- The suspect is not currently at the scene.
- The incident does not involve a firearm.
- The reporting person meets the online-reporting requirements.
Certain offenses, including motor-vehicle theft or incidents involving firearms, must be reported directly to police.
If online reporting is not appropriate, call 850-606-5800, request an officer, visit the Police Department or file a qualifying report by telephone.
Tallahassee Traffic Crash Reports
Traffic crash reports can be requested through the TPD Records Unit.
Crashes involving injury, death or an intoxicated driver should be reported immediately to law enforcement. For other qualifying crashes, drivers may have online or self-reporting options depending on the circumstances.
Crash reports are not generally available on the same day the crash occurs.
Useful information when requesting a report includes the crash date, location, driver information and police case or report number.
What County Is Tallahassee Police Department In?
Tallahassee is located in Leon County, Florida.
TPD provides municipal law-enforcement services within Tallahassee city limits. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is a separate agency responsible for county-level law enforcement and operation of the Leon County Detention Center.
The exact incident location determines whether Tallahassee Police, the Sheriff’s Office or another agency has primary jurisdiction.
Tallahassee Police and Leon County Detention Center
Tallahassee Police officers make arrests, but TPD does not operate the Leon County Detention Center.
The detention facility is operated by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and is located at:
- 535 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32304
The detention-center telephone number is: 850-606-3500
The Sheriff’s Office provides an online inmate-search service. Current booking, bond and release information should be confirmed through the detention facility because custody status can change quickly.
Complaints About Tallahassee Police Employees
TPD’s Internal Affairs Unit handles citizen complaints and reviews allegations involving department personnel.
Internal Affairs can be reached at: 850-891-4321
Complaints may be made by telephone, mail, online or directly to a police supervisor. The department states that complaints are investigated and may be handled either by Internal Affairs or by the employee’s supervisor depending on the circumstances.
Useful complaint information includes:
- Date and time
- Exact location
- Employee name or description
- Badge information when known
- Police case number
- Witness information
- Photographs or recordings
- A clear description of what occurred
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Tallahassee Police non-emergency number?
A: For a non-emergency incident requiring police response, call 850-606-5800. Call 911 for emergencies and crimes currently in progress.
Q: Where is Tallahassee Police Department headquarters?
A: Tallahassee Police headquarters is located at 234 East 7th Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.
Q: How is Tallahassee Police patrol organized?
A: TPD divides the city into two major sectors. Those sectors are divided into districts, which are further divided into smaller patrol areas called beats.
Q: Can I file a Tallahassee police report online?
A: Yes. TPD accepts qualifying non-emergency reports online when the incident meets the department’s eligibility requirements. Incidents involving emergencies, firearms or certain stolen vehicles must be reported directly to police.
Q: Does Tallahassee Police operate the Leon County Detention Center?
A: No. The Leon County Detention Center is operated by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. It is located at 535 Appleyard Drive in Tallahassee, and the main detention number is 850-606-3500.