Baltimore Police Department: Address, Phone Number, Districts and City Jurisdiction

The Baltimore Police Department, commonly known as BPD, is the primary law-enforcement agency serving Baltimore, Maryland. It responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, patrols neighbourhoods, enforces traffic laws and works with residents through community-policing and crime-prevention programs.

Baltimore Police divides the city into nine geographic police districts: Central, Eastern, Western, Southern, Southeastern, Southwestern, Northern, Northeastern and Northwestern. Each district has its own headquarters, patrol officers, detectives and command personnel.

Residents should call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is in immediate danger or urgent police assistance is required. Baltimore 311 handles many non-emergency matters, while qualifying police reports can be completed online or through the Telephone Reporting Unit.

Baltimore Police Department Quick Information

Baltimore Police Department Headquarters

Baltimore Police Headquarters is located at:

• 601 E. Fayette Street
• Baltimore, Maryland 21202

The headquarters building contains executive administration and other department-wide functions. However, people do not need to travel to headquarters whenever they require an officer or want to report a crime.

A person may file an eligible report online, contact the Telephone Reporting Unit or visit the police district responsible for the incident location.

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 collision has occurred.
• A child or vulnerable person is missing in dangerous circumstances.
• Immediate police, fire or medical help is required.

For ordinary city-service concerns, residents can contact 311. Examples include abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, damaged streetlights, graffiti and other matters that may not require an immediate police response.

Important Baltimore Police Phone Numbers

Specialised-unit numbers should mainly be used for tips, appointments and case follow-up. A new crime requiring an immediate officer response should be reported through 911.

Baltimore Police Districts

BPD operates nine geographic police districts. Full implementation of the department’s updated district boundaries began in July 2023.

District boundaries do not always follow ZIP codes, neighbourhood names or City Council districts. Residents can use BPD’s address-based district finder or contact 311 when they are unsure which station serves a location.

1. Central District

The Central District serves downtown Baltimore and several surrounding neighbourhoods. Its service area includes major attractions, government buildings, business districts, entertainment areas and parts of the Inner Harbor.

2. Eastern District

The Eastern District serves several communities in East Baltimore. It includes residential neighbourhoods, historic areas, schools, parks and transportation corridors.

3. Western District

The Western District serves areas including Sandtown-Winchester, Penn-North and nearby West Baltimore communities. Coppin State University is also located within this district.

4. Southern District

The Southern District covers parts of South Baltimore, including Cherry Hill, Brooklyn, Federal Hill, Locust Point and Westport. Major sports and entertainment facilities are located within or near its service area.

5. Southeastern District

The Southeastern District serves communities such as Canton, Highlandtown, Greektown, Brewers Hill and Butchers Hill. It also covers important sections of the Port of Baltimore.

6. Southwestern District

The Southwestern District includes communities such as Irvington, Edmondson Village, Allendale and Ten Hills. It also serves areas near Leakin Park and the Gwynns Falls Trail.

7. Northern District

The Northern District serves communities including Roland Park, Guilford, Hampden and Charles Village. Several universities, cultural institutions and parks are located within its boundaries.

8. Northeastern District

The Northeastern District covers areas including Hamilton, Lauraville and communities surrounding Morgan State University and Lake Montebello.

9. Northwestern District

The Northwestern District serves communities such as Cross Country, Hanlon-Longwood and Mount Washington. Pimlico Race Course and Sinai Hospital are located within the district.

Baltimore Police Patrol and Investigative Services

Patrol officers provide BPD’s main frontline response. They are assigned to one of the nine districts and smaller posts within those districts.

Patrol responsibilities include:

• Responding to emergency and non-emergency calls
• Conducting initial criminal investigations
• Handling domestic disturbances
• Investigating suspicious activity
• Conducting welfare checks
• Searching for missing people
• Enforcing traffic and criminal laws
• Responding to vehicle collisions
• Making arrests
• Providing visible neighbourhood patrol

A patrol officer normally prepares the first police report and collects immediately available information. Cases requiring additional investigation may be assigned to district detectives or a specialised citywide unit.

Criminal Investigations and Specialised Units

BPD maintains detective and specialised units for serious or complex cases.

These units may investigate:

• Homicide
• Non-fatal shootings
• Robbery
• Serious assault
• Sexual offences
• Crimes against children
• Domestic violence
• Missing-person cases
• Burglary and property crime
• Auto theft
• Financial crime
• Narcotics and organised crime
• Human trafficking

The department also maintains tactical teams, K-9 officers, aviation support, marine personnel, traffic enforcement, bomb technicians and forensic specialists.

A victim contacting the department about an existing investigation should keep the police report number available. This helps personnel identify the assigned district, detective and case status.

What County Is the Baltimore Police Department In?

Baltimore is an independent city under Maryland law. It is not part of Baltimore County.

For many administrative and statistical purposes, Baltimore City is treated as a county-equivalent jurisdiction. BPD serves locations within Baltimore City boundaries.

Baltimore County surrounds much of the city but is a separate local government with its own police department. An address containing the word “Baltimore” may therefore fall under either:

• Baltimore Police Department
• Baltimore County Police Department
• Another nearby municipal or specialised police agency

The exact incident location determines which department should take the report.

Other agencies operating within Baltimore include:

• Maryland State Police
• Maryland Transportation Authority Police
• Maryland Transit Administration Police
• University police departments
• School police
• Federal law-enforcement agencies

Incidents on state freeways or transportation property may fall under one of these agencies.

How to File a Baltimore Police Report

Baltimore Police provides three main ways to file a non-emergency report:

• Submit an eligible report online.
• Call the Telephone Reporting Unit at 410-637-8875.
• Visit the police district responsible for the incident location.

The Telephone Reporting Unit operates seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Online or telephone reporting may be appropriate when:

• The situation is not an emergency.
• The crime is no longer in progress.
• At least 30 minutes have passed since the incident.
• There is no known suspect.
• There is no known witness requiring immediate interview.
• No one was injured or threatened.
• There is no physical evidence requiring collection.
• The incident occurred within Baltimore City.
• The matter is not a hate or bias crime.
• The incident did not occur on a state freeway.

Qualifying categories may include:

• Lost property
• Theft
• Destruction of property
• Vehicle vandalism
• Certain thefts from vehicles
• Selected civil matters
• Minor accidents without injury or towing
• Supplemental information for an existing case

After an online report is submitted, the reporting person receives a temporary number. A permanent police report number is issued after the report has been reviewed and approved.

Reporting a Stolen Vehicle

A stolen motor vehicle should be reported directly to police. Call 911 when the theft has just occurred, the suspect is nearby or violence was involved.

The registered owner should provide:

• Vehicle identification number
• Licence plate number
• Year, make and model
• Vehicle colour
• Registered owner’s information
• Last known location
• Approximate time of disappearance
• Information about available keys or tracking devices

Before reporting the vehicle stolen, check whether it was towed, repossessed or moved by another authorised person.

A stolen vehicle report must be made promptly so the vehicle can be entered into law-enforcement databases.

Obtaining Police and Accident Reports

Members of the public can request Baltimore City police reports through the Community Correspondence Unit.

Written requests may be mailed to:

• Baltimore Police Department
• Community Correspondence Unit
• 242 W. 29th Street
• Baltimore, Maryland 21211

A request should include:

• Police report number
• Incident date
• Exact location
• Names of involved people
• Type of report requested
• Requester’s contact information
• Proof of eligibility when required

BPD generally attempts to produce releasable records within 30 days. Additional time may be needed to locate, review and legally redact a complex record.

Vehicle accident reports from January 1, 2011 onward are provided through the department’s authorised crash-report service.

Some police information may be removed or withheld when it involves juveniles, protected victims, confidential witnesses or an active investigation.

Requests for body-camera video, 911 audio, dispatch records, photographs and closed investigative files may require a separate Maryland Public Information Act request.

Evidence and Property Retrieval

BPD’s Evidence Management Unit stores property seized or collected during criminal investigations.

The Evidence Management Unit can be contacted at:

410-396-2048

Its regular operating hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Evidence or seized property cannot be collected until the officer or detective assigned to the case authorises its release.

After receiving authorisation, the owner should contact the Evidence Management Unit and schedule an appointment.

The owner may need:

• Valid government-issued photo identification
• Police report number
• Property receipt
• Proof of ownership
• Release approval from the investigator or court

Firearms and ammunition follow additional release procedures, including eligibility checks. Property belonging to a deceased person normally requires documentation showing that the claimant is the legally appointed representative of the estate.

Towed and Impounded Vehicles

Baltimore City’s Department of Transportation manages city towing and impound services.

To locate a towed vehicle:

• Call 311 from within Baltimore City.
• Call 443-263-2220 from outside Baltimore.
• Search the city’s vehicle-recovery system using the licence plate, VIN or vehicle identification number.

The main impound facility is:

• Pulaski Highway Impound Facility
• 6700 Pulaski Highway
• Baltimore, Maryland 21237

The facility telephone number is 410-396-9958.

The registered owner normally needs:

• Valid photo identification
• Current vehicle registration or title
• Proof of ownership
• Payment of towing and storage charges
• Payment or resolution of applicable citations

Cash and checks may not be accepted. Owners should confirm the available payment methods before visiting.

A vehicle may remain on police hold when it is evidence in a criminal investigation. The impound facility cannot release it until the investigating agency removes the hold.

Baltimore Police and Central Booking

Baltimore Police officers make arrests, but BPD does not operate the city’s main booking and detention facilities.

People arrested in Baltimore are generally processed through:

• Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center
• 300 E. Madison Street
• Baltimore, Maryland 21202

The information number is 410-545-8080.

The facility is operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services through its Division of Pretrial Detention and Services.

Central Booking processes people arrested in Baltimore City or on Baltimore City warrants. Depending on the charges and court decisions, a person may later be transferred to another state detention or correctional facility.

A recently arrested person may not immediately appear in the state inmate locator while identification, medical screening, charging and booking procedures are being completed.

Complaints About Baltimore Police Employees

Complaints involving Baltimore Police officers or civilian employees are handled by the Public Integrity Bureau.

The Public Integrity Bureau is located at:

• 2524 Kirk Avenue
• Baltimore, Maryland 21218

The telephone number is 410-396-2300. A 24-hour toll-free complaint hotline is available at 1-833-288-7245.

Complaints may be submitted:

• Online
• By telephone
• By email
• By mail
• At the Public Integrity Bureau
• At any BPD district station

A useful complaint should include:

• Incident date and time
• Exact location
• Officer’s name or badge number, when known
• Police vehicle number
• Report number
• Witness details
• Photographs, video or documents
• A clear description of what occurred

Confidential complaints are accepted, and the department states that complaints can be made without fear of retaliation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many police districts does Baltimore have?

A: Baltimore Police has nine geographic districts: Central, Eastern, Western, Southern, Southeastern, Southwestern, Northern, Northeastern and Northwestern.

Q: Can I file a Baltimore police report online?

A: Yes, certain non-emergency incidents can be reported online. The case generally must involve no known suspect, no injury, no immediate threat and no physical evidence requiring collection.

Q: Is Baltimore City part of Baltimore County?

A: No. Baltimore is an independent city and separate from Baltimore County. The two jurisdictions have different police departments.

Q: How can I locate a vehicle towed in Baltimore?

A: Call 311 from within Baltimore or 443-263-2220 from outside the city. The main city impound facility is located at 6700 Pulaski Highway.

Q: Does Baltimore Police operate Central Booking?

A: No. Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center is operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.