By Amelia Anderson The Alhambra Police Department (APD) is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City of Alhambra, California. Its responsibilities include emergency response, patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, community policing, evidence management, records services and operation of the Alhambra City Jail.
Dial 911 when the situation is unfolding and waiting could put someone at risk—for example, during an assault, an armed confrontation, a break-in in progress or another incident involving an immediate threat to life or safety. For routine police assistance and incidents that are no longer emergencies, call 626-570-5151. The non-emergency dispatch line operates 24 hours a day.
Alhambra uses an Area Command system with four geographic areas rather than several separate public precinct stations. The department is currently led by Police Chief Garrett Kennedy.
Alhambra Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Alhambra Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | APD |
| Police station address | 211 S. First Street, Alhambra, CA 91801 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency dispatch | 626-570-5151 |
| Watch Commander | 626-570-5130 |
| Office of the Chief | 626-570-5132 |
| Police chief | Garrett Kennedy |
| Records Bureau | 626-570-5107 |
| Investigations Bureau | 626-570-5157 |
| Traffic Bureau | 626-570-5119 |
| Property and Evidence | 626-570-5148 |
| Community Relations | 626-570-5177 |
| Alhambra City Jail | 626-570-5145 |
| Geographic police areas | Four |
| Main divisions | Field Services and Support Services |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Online reporting | Available for selected incidents |
| Los Angeles County inmate information | 213-473-6100 |
The department’s current directory identifies Garrett Kennedy as chief and lists the principal police numbers above.
Alhambra Police Department Address
The main police station is located at: 211 South First Street, Alhambra, California 91801
Non-emergency: 626-570-5151
The station sits near Alhambra City Hall at the northwest corner of First Street and Commonwealth Avenue. Emergency police services operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Residents may contact or visit the station for matters such as:
- Filing a delayed police report
- Requesting an available police report
- Asking about an existing case
- Recovering authorized property
- Obtaining vehicle-release information
- Contacting a police supervisor
- Filing a complaint
- Asking about someone held in the city jail
The Watch Commander can be contacted 24 hours a day at 626-570-5130.
Alhambra Police Area Commands
Instead of dividing the city into traditional precincts, APD uses an Area Command service-delivery model. Alhambra is divided into four geographic areas, each overseen by a police lieutenant responsible for understanding crime patterns, community concerns and quality-of-life issues within that area.
The current geographic structure is:
| Area | General location |
| Area 1 | North of Mission Road and east of Atlantic Boulevard |
| Area 2 | South of Mission Road and east of Atlantic Boulevard |
| Area 3 | North of Mission Road and west of Atlantic Boulevard |
| Area 4 | South of Mission Road and west of Atlantic Boulevard |
Current Area Commanders are Grant Spencer for Area 1, Ruben Soriano for Area 2, Rodney Castillo for Area 3 and Kevin Laing for Area 4.
Residents do not need to determine their area before requesting police help. Dispatchers can identify the appropriate patrol assignment from the exact incident location.
Field Services Division
The Field Services Division contains most of the department’s frontline police personnel. APD states that approximately 60% of its sworn officers are assigned to Field Services.
Its major functions include:
- Area Command
- Uniformed patrol
- Traffic enforcement
- Reserve Police Officers
- Canine Unit
- Community Policing
- Crime Prevention
- Volunteers on Patrol
Patrol officers normally provide the first response to crimes, disturbances and other calls for service.
Their responsibilities may include:
- Protecting victims and injured people
- Securing crime scenes
- Searching for suspects
- Interviewing witnesses
- Collecting initial evidence
- Conducting traffic enforcement
- Making arrests when appropriate
- Preparing police reports
- Conducting visible neighbourhood patrols
APD’s Area Command model is intended to combine geographic responsibility with community-oriented and problem-oriented policing.
Traffic Bureau
The Traffic Bureau handles traffic-law enforcement and collision-related police services.
Traffic Bureau: 626-570-5119
Its responsibilities include traffic enforcement, collision investigations, parking-related police functions and vehicle-impound matters. The Traffic Section is generally open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For vehicles placed under a 30-day impound pursuant to California Vehicle Code procedures, the owner must contact Traffic to arrange a hearing. The department currently lists a $275 administrative vehicle-release fee. The registered owner must generally have a valid California driver’s licence, and the vehicle must have current DMV registration.
Towing and storage fees charged by the towing company are separate from the police administrative release fee.
Support Services Division
The Support Services Division provides administrative, investigative and technical services that support patrol operations.
Its responsibilities include:
- Records
- Training
- Dispatch and Communications
- Accounting
- Jail Services
- Property and Evidence
- Professional Standards
- Investigations
- Special Enforcement functions
APD’s organizational history describes Support Services as including Administration, Finance, Jail Services, Property and Evidence, Records, Professional Standards, Special Enforcement and Investigations.
Criminal Investigations
The Investigations Bureau can be contacted at:
626-570-5157
The current department directory identifies separate investigative supervision for Crimes Against Persons and Crimes Against Property.
Detectives may investigate cases involving:
- Robbery
- Serious assault
- Burglary
- Theft
- Vehicle-related crime
- Fraud
- Crimes against vulnerable victims
- Other felony offences requiring follow-up
The Special Enforcement function also supports narcotics and gang-related investigations and participates in regional enforcement efforts.
Not every police report automatically receives detective assignment. The seriousness of the offence, available evidence, suspect information and workable investigative leads may influence further investigation.
What County Is the Alhambra Police Department In?
The Alhambra Police Department is located in Los Angeles County, California.
APD is a municipal police department and primarily serves locations within the legal boundaries of the City of Alhambra.
It is separate from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which provides county-level services, operates the county jail system and performs law enforcement in many contract cities and unincorporated areas.
Nearby cities such as Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and San Marino maintain their own municipal police departments.
A postal address using “Alhambra” does not by itself guarantee that the location falls within APD jurisdiction. When there is doubt, provide the complete address to dispatch.
Filing an Alhambra Police Report
APD provides a Citizens Online Police Reporting System for selected non-emergency crimes. All reports submitted online are reviewed, and the reporting person may be contacted if additional investigation is required.
Current online-report categories include:
- Harassing telephone calls
- Theft
- Vehicle tampering
- Hit-and-run incidents
- Lost property
- Vandalism
- Vehicle burglary
- Lost passports
Financial crimes and identity-theft cases use a separate Financial Crime Report process.
Online reporting should not replace direct police contact when:
- The crime is actively happening
- Someone is in danger
- The suspect is present
- A weapon is involved
- Evidence requires immediate collection
- An officer needs to examine the scene
After submitting a police report, keep the case number for insurance, Records requests and future communication with investigators.
Obtaining Police and Accident Reports
Police records are handled by:
Alhambra Police Records Bureau
211 S. First Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
Telephone: 626-570-5107
Records hours are generally:
Monday through Thursday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday through Sunday: Closed.
Current fees are:
| Record or Service | Fee |
| Crime or incident report | $0.10 per page |
| Traffic collision report | $0.10 per page |
| Vehicle release | $275 |
A crime report is generally available to the victim or another person legally entitled to receive it. Accident reports are available to parties with a proper interest, such as an involved driver, injured person, parent of a minor driver or authorized representative.
For broader California Public Records Act requests, the department directs requesters to the Alhambra City Clerk’s Office.
Property and Evidence
The Property and Evidence Unit is responsible for storing and disposing of property and evidence collected by APD personnel.
Property and Evidence: 626-570-5148
The department states that the unit processes approximately 5,000 items each year and maintains tens of thousands of pieces of property and evidence.
Property retrieval is by appointment. A person seeking an item should contact the unit first and be prepared to provide identification, the police case number and proof of ownership.
Evidence needed for an investigation or court proceeding cannot normally be released until the appropriate legal or investigative authority approves its disposition.
Complaints About Alhambra Police Employees
Formal complaints about APD personnel can be initiated through the Watch Commander.
Watch Commander: 626-570-5130
Complaint forms are available 24 hours a day. Once a completed form is returned, the department begins a formal investigation, may contact the complainant for further information and later provides notice of the outcome.
Useful information includes:
- Date and time
- Exact location
- Employee name or description
- Badge number, if known
- Police report or citation number
- Witness details
- Photographs or recordings
- A clear description of what occurred
The department states that complaints concerning employees are fully investigated and may result in corrective training or disciplinary action when improper conduct is established.
Alhambra City Jail and County Custody
APD operates the Alhambra City Jail at the police station:
- 211 S. First Street, Alhambra, CA 91801
- Jail telephone: 626-570-5145
The city jail houses municipal arrestees. Visiting hours are currently 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week.
The facility also operates a Pay to Stay program for qualifying sentenced inmates.
A person requiring longer-term detention may be transferred into the Los Angeles County jail system. After transfer, county inmate information is available through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 213-473-6100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Alhambra Police non-emergency number?
Call 626-570-5151 for police assistance when there is no immediate threat requiring an emergency response. The line operates 24 hours a day.
Q2. How many Alhambra Police areas are there?
APD divides the city into four Area Command zones, separated primarily by Mission Road and Atlantic Boulevard.
Q3. Can I file an Alhambra police report online?
Yes. Selected incidents such as theft, vandalism, vehicle burglary, lost property and certain hit-and-run cases may be reported through the Citizens Online Police Reporting System.
Q4. Does Alhambra Police operate its own jail?
Yes. APD operates the Alhambra City Jail at 211 S. First Street. Municipal arrestees may be held there, while people requiring longer county custody may later be transferred into the Los Angeles County jail system.