Lafayette Police Department: Address, Phone Number, Divisions and Parish

The Lafayette Police Department, commonly known as LPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City of Lafayette, Louisiana. The department responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws, protects property and works with residents through community-policing and crime-prevention programs.

LPD divides the city into five geographic police precincts. Each precinct allows officers to focus on the neighbourhoods, roads, businesses and recurring concerns within a smaller area. Residents should call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is in danger or immediate police assistance is required. Non-emergency matters can be reported by calling the department’s main number or by using the online reporting system when the incident qualifies.

Lafayette Police Department Quick Information

Lafayette Police Department Address

The Lafayette Police Department headquarters is located at:

• 900 East University Avenue
• Lafayette, Louisiana 70503

The department sometimes uses 70502 as its mailing ZIP code, particularly for records requests and official correspondence.

The main Police Department telephone number is 337-291-8600. This number can be used for general police information, delayed incidents and non-emergency assistance.

Call 911 when:

• A crime is currently taking place.
• Someone is injured or in immediate danger.
• A firearm or another weapon is involved.
• A suspect is still at or near the scene.
• A serious vehicle crash has occurred.
• A child or vulnerable person is missing.
• Immediate police, fire or medical assistance is required.

Callers should provide the exact address, nearest intersection, apartment or unit number and a description of the people or vehicles involved.

Important Lafayette Police Phone Numbers

Specialised-unit numbers are mainly intended for information, victim assistance and case follow-up. New incidents should usually be reported through 911 or the main police number.

Lafayette Police Precincts

Lafayette is divided into five police precincts. Patrol officers and community-engagement personnel work within these areas to respond to calls and address neighbourhood concerns.

The contact numbers listed for precincts are intended mainly for community engagement and neighbourhood concerns. A person who needs an officer dispatched should call 911 or 337-291-8600.

Precinct 1

Precinct 1 generally covers northern and northwestern parts of Lafayette. Its boundaries include areas between Congress Street, Gloria Switch Road, the Interstate 49 corridor and University Avenue.

The precinct contains residential neighbourhoods, schools, churches, commercial corridors and several public parks. Its service base is housed inside the Clifton Chenier Center at 220 W. Willow Street.

Precinct 2

Precinct 2 generally includes areas bordered by Johnston Street, University Avenue, Walker Road and Ambassador Caffery Parkway.

It contains residential communities, commercial areas, medical facilities, schools, the Cajundome and nearby sports facilities. Officers work rotating shifts and are assigned to smaller patrol zones within the precinct.

Precinct 3

Precinct 3 covers much of southern and southwestern Lafayette. It includes growing residential communities, retail corridors, industrial areas and several major medical facilities.

The precinct also contains some of the city’s busiest intersections, including areas around Ambassador Caffery Parkway and Johnston Street.

Precinct 4

Precinct 4 covers a large part of northern and eastern Lafayette. Its station is located at:

• 1820 Moss Street
• Lafayette, Louisiana 70501

The precinct includes residential communities, shopping areas, schools and important sections of the Interstate 49 and Louisiana Avenue corridors.

Residents can also visit this location to request qualifying police and crash reports.

Precinct 5

Precinct 5 is the Downtown District. Its service base is located inside the Rosa Parks Transportation Center at:

• 101 Jefferson Street
• Lafayette, Louisiana 70501

It serves the downtown business, entertainment and government areas. Officers assigned to the district frequently handle calls connected with nightlife, festivals, public events, parking and pedestrian activity.

Lafayette Police Department Divisions

LPD includes patrol, investigative, traffic, forensic and support divisions.

1. Patrol Division

The Patrol Division provides the department’s primary response to calls for service. All new sworn officers begin their careers in patrol before becoming eligible for certain specialised assignments.

Patrol officers handle:

• Emergency and non-emergency calls
• Preliminary criminal investigations
• Domestic disturbances
• Suspicious-person and vehicle reports
• Welfare checks
• Missing-person reports
• Traffic violations
• Vehicle crashes
• Arrests and warrant-related activity
• Neighbourhood disturbances

A patrol officer normally completes the first report and collects immediately available evidence. More serious cases may later be assigned to a detective.

2. Criminal Investigations Division

The Criminal Investigations Division handles cases requiring extended follow-up.

Investigators may work on:

• Homicides
• Robberies
• Serious assaults
• Burglaries
• Financial crimes
• Sexual offences
• Crimes against children
• Missing-person cases
• Property crimes
• Human trafficking
• Gang and narcotics investigations

Detectives interview victims and witnesses, review security recordings, obtain warrants and work with prosecutors to prepare criminal cases.

The Criminal Investigations Division can be contacted at 337-291-8632 for appropriate case follow-up.

3. Traffic Enforcement

Traffic officers enforce driving laws, investigate serious crashes and address repeated traffic problems.

Specialised traffic functions include:

• Motorcycle enforcement
• Hit-and-run investigation
• Impaired-driving enforcement
• Speeding complaints
• Serious collision investigation
• Traffic control during public events

Call 911 when a crash involves injuries, a suspected impaired driver, a major road obstruction or another immediate danger.

4. Special Operations

LPD maintains specially trained personnel for incidents that require resources beyond ordinary patrol.

Special assignments include:

• Special Weapons and Tactics team
• Crisis negotiators
• Drone operators
• Police K-9 teams
• Mounted patrol
• Dignitary protection
• Swift-water rescue
• Unusual-occurrence response
• School resource officers

These units may assist during dangerous arrests, searches, festivals, severe weather and other major incidents.

5. Community Engagement Division

The Community Engagement Division works with residents, businesses and neighbourhood groups.

Its responsibilities include:

• Building relationships between officers and residents
• Attending community meetings
• Addressing quality-of-life concerns
• Coordinating crime-prevention activities
• Sharing safety information
• Connecting residents with precinct personnel
• Supporting the Citizens Academy and youth programs

Community Engagement is useful for continuing neighbourhood issues. Crimes in progress must still be reported through 911.

What Parish Is the Lafayette Police Department In?

The Lafayette Police Department is located in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties.

LPD’s regular jurisdiction is based on the incorporated City of Lafayette rather than the entire parish.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office is a separate law-enforcement agency. It operates the parish correctional centre, serves courts and warrants and provides law-enforcement services in unincorporated parts of the parish.

Nearby municipalities such as Broussard, Scott, Carencro and Youngsville have their own police departments.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette also maintains a separate university police department for incidents occurring on university-controlled property.

A Lafayette mailing address does not always prove that a location is inside city police jurisdiction. Call 911 during an emergency so dispatchers can identify the correct agency.

How to File a Lafayette Police Report Online

LPD provides an online reporting system for selected non-emergency incidents.

Online reporting may be used when:

• The incident occurred inside the City of Lafayette.
• The situation is not an emergency.
• The reporting person was not physically assaulted.
• A house or vehicle was not broken into.
• The suspect cannot be identified.

Do not use online reporting when:

• The crime is happening now.
• Someone is injured or in danger.
• The suspect is known.
• A home or vehicle was burglarised.
• Physical evidence must be collected.
• The incident occurred outside Lafayette.
• A stolen vehicle, firearm or licence plate is involved.

When the online report is submitted, the person receives a temporary case number. After police review and approval, a permanent report number is sent by email.

Review generally takes around two to three business days, although it may take longer depending on officer availability and the department’s workload.

Reporting a Stolen Vehicle

A stolen motor vehicle should be reported directly to police rather than through the ordinary online reporting system.

The registered owner should provide:

• Vehicle identification number
• Licence plate number
• Year, make and model
• Vehicle colour
• Registered owner’s information
• Location where the vehicle was last seen
• Approximate time of disappearance
• Information about available keys

Call 911 when the theft is taking place, violence was used or the suspect remains nearby. Otherwise, call 337-291-8600.

Obtaining Police and Crash Reports

The Records Section maintains documented incidents occurring within the City of Lafayette.

Reports can be requested at:

• Lafayette Police Department
• 900 East University Avenue
• Lafayette, Louisiana

Crash reports may also be requested at the Precinct 4 building at 1820 Moss Street.

The Records Section telephone number is 337-291-8621.

Records office hours

Common records fees

A person requesting their own local criminal-history record must appear in person and provide photo identification.

An employer seeking a local records check must generally submit a signed release from the applicant and comply with the Records Section’s user requirements.

A complete investigative or arrest report may require a subpoena. Information may also be removed when a case involves juveniles, sexual offences, protected victims or an active investigation.

Public Records Requests

Requests for body-camera recordings, emails, policies and other government records can be submitted through Lafayette Consolidated Government’s public-records system.

A detailed request should include:

• Police case number
• Incident date
• Exact location
• Names of involved people
• Type of document or recording requested
• Requester’s contact information

Louisiana law generally allows the government a reasonable period to provide available records or explain when they will be ready.

Some information may be withheld or redacted because of privacy laws, active investigations or other legal restrictions.

Towed and Impounded Vehicles

Lafayette Police may order a vehicle towed after a crash, arrest, parking violation, abandonment or criminal investigation.

The department uses authorised towing companies rather than one publicly listed police impound yard for every vehicle.

A person whose vehicle is missing should call 337-291-8600 and provide:

• Licence plate number
• Vehicle identification number
• Make, model and colour
• Registered owner’s name
• Location where the vehicle was parked
• Approximate time it disappeared

Police can determine whether the vehicle was towed and identify the storage company.

The registered owner will generally need photo identification, proof of ownership and payment of towing and storage fees. A vehicle held as criminal evidence cannot be released until the assigned investigator removes the police hold.

Lafayette Police and Parish Jail Services

Lafayette Police officers make arrests, but the department does not operate the parish correctional centre.

The Lafayette Parish Correctional Center is operated by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and is located at:

• 916 Lafayette Street
• Lafayette, Louisiana 70501

The Correctional Center telephone number is 337-236-5400.

The Sheriff’s Office provides an online offender-information system showing people currently housed at the facility and recent bookings.

A newly arrested person may not appear immediately while identification, medical screening, booking and transfer procedures are completed.

Questions about inmate custody, bonds, visitation, commissary or release should be directed to the Sheriff’s Office rather than a police precinct.

Complaints About Lafayette Police Employees

A complaint involving an LPD officer, civilian employee or department operation may be made by telephone, in person or in writing.

Complaints can be initiated by contacting any Lafayette Police employee at 337-291-8600.

Written complaints may be addressed to:

• Chief of Police
• Lafayette Police Department
• 900 East University Avenue
• Lafayette, Louisiana 70502

A useful complaint should include:

• Date and time of the incident
• Exact location
• Employee’s name or badge number, when known
• Police case number
• Names and contact details of witnesses
• Photographs, recordings or documents
• A clear description of what happened

Complaints may be investigated by the employee’s division or the Internal Affairs Section. The department generally aims to complete an investigation within 60 days, although additional time may be required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this article about Lafayette, Louisiana?

A: Yes. Other cities named Lafayette, including those in Indiana and Colorado, have separate police departments and different contact information.

Q: Does Lafayette Police have precincts?

A: Yes. The city is divided into five geographic police precincts, including a separate Downtown District.

Q: Can I report a stolen vehicle online?

A: No. Call 337-291-8600 to report a stolen vehicle. Call 911 when the theft is happening or someone is in immediate danger.

Q: Can I file an online report when I know the suspect?

A: No. When the suspect can be identified, contact police directly so an officer can determine the appropriate response and evidence requirements.

Q: How long does an online report take to be approved?

A: Online reports are normally reviewed within two to three business days. Processing may take longer when the department has a high call volume.

Q: Does Lafayette Police operate the parish jail?

A: No. The Lafayette Parish Correctional Center is operated by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Q: Can I obtain a crash report from Precinct 4?

A: Yes. A person involved in a crash may request a copy at 1820 Moss Street or at the main Police Department building.

Q: How can I find out where my vehicle was towed?

A: Call 337-291-8600 with the licence plate number, VIN and registered owner’s information. Police can identify the towing company and storage location.

Q: Can Lafayette Police take a report for an incident on university property?

A: Incidents on University of Louisiana at Lafayette property may fall under university police jurisdiction. Call 911 during an emergency so the correct agency can respond.

Q: Do I have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing?

A: No. There is no required waiting period. Call 911 as soon as you believe a child, vulnerable adult or another person is missing under concerning circumstances.