By Amelia Anderson The Burlington Police Department, commonly known as BPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Burlington, Vermont. It responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, patrols neighbourhoods, manages traffic-related incidents and works with residents through community-policing and public-safety programs.
Burlington Police operates primarily from one headquarters on North Avenue. The city is divided into five operational patrol areas identified as Areas A through E rather than separate public precinct stations.
Residents should call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is in immediate danger or urgent police assistance is required. The department’s non-emergency line should be used for delayed incidents and situations that do not require an immediate response.
Burlington Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Burlington Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | BPD |
| Headquarters address | 1 North Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Main Police Department number | 802-658-2700 |
| Non-emergency number | 802-658-2704 |
| Non-emergency dispatch option | Press 9 |
| Police Records | 802-540-2370 |
| Drug-tip line | 802-540-2420 |
| Animal Control follow-up | 802-540-2375 |
| Fingerprinting appointments | 802-540-2246 |
| Parking and towing assistance | 802-540-2380 |
| Number of operational patrol areas | Five |
| Patrol areas | Areas A, B, C, D and E |
| County | Chittenden County |
| Property collection | Call 802-658-2704 and select option 4 |
| Nearby state correctional facility | Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility |
| Correctional facility phone | 802-863-7356 |
Burlington Police Department Address
The Burlington Police Department is located at:
- 1 North Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401
The headquarters contains police administration, emergency communications, patrol operations, investigative services, the Records Division, property services and other department functions.
The main Police Department number is 802-658-2700. The department also lists 802-658-2704 as its non-emergency number.
The non-emergency telephone system provides different options for services such as records, property, fingerprinting, community support, parking and dispatch.
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 crash has occurred.
- A child or vulnerable person is missing under dangerous circumstances.
- Immediate police, fire or medical assistance is required.
For a delayed incident that does not require an urgent response, call 802-658-2704 and select option 9 to reach dispatch.
Burlington Police Non-Emergency Phone Options
BPD’s non-emergency telephone system directs callers to the correct police or city service.
| Option | Service |
| Option 1 | Parking questions, tickets, meters and suspected vehicle towing |
| Option 2 | Police Records Division |
| Option 3 | Police recruitment |
| Option 4 | Property retrieval |
| Option 5 | Fingerprinting appointments and permit applications |
| Option 6 | Alarm billing and police accounting |
| Option 7 | Community Support Liaison Team |
| Option 8 | Community Service Officer follow-up |
| Option 9 | Non-emergency police dispatch |
Option 8 is intended for follow-up involving animal complaints, noise complaints and crashes without injuries. It should not be used to file a new report. New non-emergency incidents should be reported through dispatch by selecting option 9.
Important Burlington Police Phone Numbers
| Police service | Phone number |
| Emergency assistance | 911 |
| Main Police Department | 802-658-2700 |
| Non-emergency police assistance | 802-658-2704 |
| Police Records | 802-540-2370 |
| Drug-tip line | 802-540-2420 |
| Animal Control follow-up | 802-540-2375 |
| Fingerprinting appointments | 802-540-2246 |
| Parking and towing questions | 802-540-2380 |
| Chittenden County Sheriff’s Office | 802-863-4341 |
| Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility | 802-863-7356 |
| Vermont Crime Victim Services | 800-750-1213 |
Specialised numbers are mainly intended for appointments, information and case follow-up. A new crime requiring police attention should normally be reported through 911 or non-emergency dispatch.
Does Burlington Police Have Precincts?
Burlington does not have several public precinct stations. Most public and administrative police services are provided through headquarters at 1 North Avenue.
For patrol purposes, the city is divided into five geographic areas:
- Area A
- Area B
- Area C
- Area D
- Area E
These areas help the department distribute patrol officers, supervisors and calls for service. Area boundaries do not necessarily follow city wards, ZIP codes or commonly used neighbourhood names.
Residents do not need to identify their patrol area before calling the police. Dispatchers determine the correct area from the exact incident address.
A caller should provide:
- Street address
- Apartment or room number
- Nearest intersection
- Description of the incident
- Information about suspects
- Vehicle description
- Details about weapons or injuries
Incidents outside Burlington city limits may be handled by the South Burlington Police Department, Winooski Police Department, Chittenden County Sheriff’s Office or Vermont State Police.
Burlington Police Department Divisions
BPD’s organisation includes five main divisions or bureaus.
1. Uniformed Services Bureau
The Uniformed Services Bureau provides the department’s primary frontline services. It includes sworn patrol officers and non-sworn Community Service Officers.
Patrol officers handle:
- Emergency and non-emergency calls
- Preliminary criminal investigations
- Domestic disturbances
- Suspicious-person and vehicle complaints
- Welfare checks
- Missing-person reports
- Traffic enforcement
- Vehicle crashes
- Arrests
- Neighbourhood patrol
Community Service Officers handle selected lower-risk matters, including animal complaints, crashes without injuries and certain quality-of-life concerns.
A patrol officer normally prepares the initial police report. Cases requiring continued investigation may later be assigned to detectives.
2. Detective Services Bureau
The Detective Services Bureau investigates serious crimes and cases requiring detailed follow-up.
Its responsibilities may include:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Serious assault
- Burglary
- Financial crime
- Sexual offences
- Crimes against children
- Missing-person cases
- Narcotics offences
- Property crime
- Digital evidence
- Crime-scene investigation
BPD also participates in the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations, which handles qualifying sexual offences, child abuse and other sensitive cases.
Detectives may interview victims and witnesses, review security recordings, obtain warrants and prepare cases for the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office.
3. Administrative Services Bureau
The Administrative Services Bureau supports the department’s day-to-day operation.
Its functions include:
- Police Records
- Emergency Communications
- Training
- Recruitment
- Permitting
- Fingerprinting
- Public-record requests
- Administrative coordination
The Emergency Communications Center receives calls from the public and dispatches police and fire resources.
4. Business Bureau
The Business Bureau manages financial and operational support functions.
Its responsibilities include:
- Purchasing
- Accounting
- Equipment inventory
- Information technology
- Public information
- Records redaction
- Facility support
Police information systems must follow strict criminal-justice data-security requirements.
5. Crisis, Advocacy and Intervention Programs
Burlington Police has a specialised Crisis, Advocacy and Intervention Programs division.
It includes Community Support Liaisons who help residents experiencing:
- Mental-health concerns
- Substance-use problems
- Housing instability
- Social-service needs
- Repeated quality-of-life difficulties
- Other non-criminal crises
Community Support Liaisons may respond independently when there is no known safety threat. They may work with police officers when a situation involves risk or possible criminal activity.
The team can be reached through the non-emergency number by selecting option 7. It should not be used for an active emergency or urgent welfare check.
What County Is Burlington Police Department In?
The Burlington Police Department is located in Chittenden County, Vermont.
BPD’s regular jurisdiction is based on Burlington city limits rather than the entire county. The Chittenden County Sheriff’s Office is a separate law-enforcement agency with responsibilities involving court security, civil processes, prisoner transportation and selected county services.
Nearby cities and towns may have their own police departments. These include:
- South Burlington
- Winooski
- Colchester
- Essex
- Shelburne
The University of Vermont also operates its own police department for university property.
A Burlington mailing address does not always prove that a location is inside BPD jurisdiction. During an emergency, callers should dial 911 and allow dispatchers to identify the responsible agency.
How to File a Burlington Police Report Online
BPD accepts online reports for specific non-emergency incidents.
Eligible categories include:
- Bad-check fraud
- Computer crime
- Identity theft
- Counterfeiting
- Prescription fraud
- Electronic harassment or disorderly electronic communication
- Theft of rental property
- Embezzlement
- Theft of services
- Extortion
- Forgery
- False pretences
- Vandalism or graffiti
- Late-reported motor-vehicle accidents
The following conditions generally must be met:
- The incident is not an emergency.
- The incident is no longer in progress.
- It occurred within Burlington city limits.
- The reporting person has a valid email address.
- The incident matches one of the listed online categories.
Online reporting should not be used simply because a caller does not want to contact dispatch. Reports filed under the wrong category may not be processed.
Retail theft, ordinary larceny, theft from a building, theft from a motor vehicle and theft from a person generally require direct contact with police dispatch.
After an online report is submitted, the reporting person receives a document or case number. The report is reviewed by Records personnel and a police supervisor.
Online reporting creates an official record, but it does not guarantee that every case will receive a full investigation.
Reporting a Stolen Vehicle
A stolen motor vehicle should be reported directly to police rather than through the standard online reporting system.
The registered owner should provide:
- Vehicle identification number
- Licence plate number
- Year, make and model
- Vehicle colour
- Registered owner’s name
- Last known location
- Approximate time of disappearance
- Information about the vehicle keys
- Available GPS or tracking information
Before reporting a vehicle stolen, check whether it was towed, repossessed or moved by another authorised person.
Call 911 when the theft is happening, violence was used or the suspect remains nearby. Otherwise, call 802-658-2704 and select option 9.
Obtaining Police and Accident Reports
The Burlington Police Records Division maintains incident reports, crash records and other department documents.
The Records telephone number is 802-540-2370. Callers can also reach Records through the non-emergency telephone system by selecting option 2.
Formal public-record requests should generally be submitted through the department’s online Records Request Form.
A request should include:
- Police case number
- Incident date
- Exact location
- Names of involved people
- Type of report requested
- Requester’s contact information
Certain records may be redacted or withheld when they involve juveniles, protected victims, confidential witnesses, medical details or active investigations.
A late-reported motor-vehicle crash may qualify for online reporting. Crashes involving injuries, road hazards or immediate danger should be reported through 911.
Property and Evidence Retrieval
People seeking personal property held by BPD should call 802-658-2704 and select option 4.
Property collection hours are generally:
- Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Calling and making arrangements before visiting is strongly advisable. Assistance may be limited when a person arrives without prior contact or outside the designated collection hours.
The person collecting property should bring:
- Government-issued photo identification
- Police case number
- Property receipt
- Proof of ownership
- Investigator or court authorisation when required
Evidence connected with an active investigation cannot normally be released until the officer, prosecutor or court approves its return.
Fingerprinting Services
BPD provides digital fingerprinting by appointment at Police Headquarters.
Appointments are generally available on Mondays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 802-540-2246.
Applicants should bring:
- Government-issued photo identification
- A secondary form of identification
- Required authorisation paperwork
- Exact payment
The listed fingerprinting charge is generally $25 per fingerprint card. BPD does not provide traditional rolled-ink fingerprint cards.
The requesting employer, licensing body or other organisation should explain which fingerprint documents are required.
Towed and Impounded Vehicles
Parking Services handles many towing, parking-ticket and meter-related enquiries.
Parking Services is located at:
- 645 Pine Street
- Burlington, Vermont 05401
The telephone number is 802-540-2380. Its regular public hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After hours, people can call BPD non-emergency dispatch at 802-658-2704.
A person checking for a towed vehicle should provide:
- Licence plate number
- Vehicle identification number
- Make, model and colour
- Registered owner’s name
- Location where the vehicle was parked
The city uses authorised towing companies, and the storage location may depend on the reason for the tow.
The registered owner will generally need valid identification, proof of ownership and payment of applicable towing and storage charges. Outstanding parking fines may also need to be resolved.
A vehicle held as evidence cannot be released until the investigating officer removes the police hold.
Burlington Police and Correctional Facilities
Burlington Police does not operate a city or county jail. Vermont correctional facilities are operated by the Vermont Department of Corrections.
One nearby state facility is:
- Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility
- 7 Farrell Street
- South Burlington, Vermont 05403
The telephone number is 802-863-7356.
The Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility primarily houses women and also serves as a reception facility. It is not the destination for every person arrested in Burlington.
Depending on the circumstances, an arrested person may be:
- Cited and released
- Released with court conditions
- Temporarily held during processing
- Placed in a Vermont state correctional facility
- Transferred to another facility based on classification and available space
Family members should contact BPD after a very recent arrest and the Vermont Department of Corrections when the person has entered state custody.
Complaints About Burlington Police Employees
Any person may submit a complaint about a Burlington police officer or professional staff member.
Complaints can be filed:
- Through the online Citizen Complaint Form
- In person at Police Headquarters
- By mail
- Anonymously
Completed written complaints can be submitted to:
- Burlington Police Department
- 1 North Avenue
- Burlington, Vermont 05401
Online complaints are distributed to both the Police Department and the Burlington Police Commission.
A useful complaint should include:
- Incident date and time
- Exact location
- Officer’s name or badge number, when known
- Police case number
- Witness information
- Photographs, video or documents
- A clear description of what occurred
Anonymous complaints are accepted, but the department may be unable to request additional information or provide a final response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this article about Burlington, Vermont?
A: Yes. This article covers the Burlington Police Department in Burlington, Vermont. Other cities named Burlington have separate police departments and different contact information.
Q: Does Burlington Police have precinct stations?
A: No. BPD primarily operates from one headquarters at 1 North Avenue. The city is divided into five operational patrol areas identified as Areas A through E.
Q: Can I report theft or a stolen vehicle online?
A: The online system accepts only specific categories. Ordinary larceny and stolen vehicles generally require direct contact with dispatch. Call 802-658-2704 and select option 9.
Q: How can I find out whether my vehicle was towed?
A: Call Burlington Parking Services at 802-540-2380 during business hours. After hours, call BPD non-emergency dispatch at 802-658-2704.
Q: Does Burlington Police operate a county jail?
A: No. Vermont correctional facilities are operated by the state Department of Corrections. The nearby Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility is in South Burlington and primarily houses women.