By Amelia Anderson The New York City Police Department, commonly known as the NYPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving all five boroughs of New York City. It responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, patrols neighbourhoods, manages traffic enforcement and provides specialised police services for the subway system and public housing developments.
The NYPD operates through 78 geographic police precincts grouped into nine patrol borough commands. It also has separate transit districts and housing police service areas. Residents and visitors should call 911 when a crime is happening or someone is in immediate danger. For non-emergency city and police matters, they can call 311 or contact the precinct responsible for the incident location.
New York City Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | New York City Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | NYPD |
| Headquarters | One Police Plaza |
| Headquarters address | One Police Plaza, New York, NY 10038 |
| General enquiries | 646-610-5000 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency city and police services | 311 |
| Crime Stoppers | 800-577-TIPS |
| Missing Persons Case Status | 212-694-7781 |
| Special Victims 24-hour hotline | 646-610-7272 |
| Internal Affairs Bureau | 212-741-8401 |
| Civilian Complaint Review Board | 800-341-2272 |
| Property Clerk Division | 718-624-8789 |
| Number of police precincts | 78 |
| Patrol borough commands | Nine |
| Transit districts | 12 |
| Housing police service areas | Nine |
| Counties served | Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens and Richmond counties |
| Correctional services | New York City Department of Correction |
NYPD Headquarters Address
The New York City Police Department headquarters is located at:
- One Police Plaza
- New York, New York 10038
The headquarters complex is in Lower Manhattan, near the Brooklyn Bridge and several city and court buildings. The general NYPD enquiry number is 646-610-5000.
One Police Plaza houses the Police Commissioner’s office and major administrative, investigative and support functions. However, it is not the normal place to file an ordinary neighbourhood police report. Residents should generally report non-emergency incidents online when eligible or visit the precinct responsible for the location where the incident occurred.
Call 911 when:
- A crime is currently happening.
- Someone is injured or in immediate danger.
- A firearm or another weapon is involved.
- A serious collision has occurred.
- A suspect is still at the location.
- Immediate police, fire or medical assistance is required.
For non-emergency city services and police-related concerns, call 311. The operator can provide guidance, create certain service requests or connect the caller with the appropriate police service.
Important NYPD Phone Numbers
| Police service | Phone number |
| Emergency assistance | 911 |
| Non-emergency city services | 311 |
| NYPD general enquiries | 646-610-5000 |
| Crime Stoppers | 800-577-8477 |
| Crime Stoppers in Spanish | 888-577-4782 |
| Missing Persons Case Status | 212-694-7781 |
| Special Victims hotline | 646-610-7272 |
| Internal Affairs Bureau | 212-741-8401 |
| Civilian Complaint Review Board | 800-341-2272 |
| Terrorism hotline | 888-692-7233 |
| Property Clerk Division | 718-624-8789 |
| Manhattan Property Office | 646-610-5906 |
| Erie Basin Auto Pound | 718-246-2031 |
| Springfield Gardens Auto Pound | 718-553-9555 |
Specialised numbers are primarily intended for information, tips, complaints and case follow-up. A new emergency should always be reported through 911.
NYPD Precincts and Patrol Borough Commands
The NYPD Patrol Services Bureau is organised into nine patrol borough commands containing 78 precincts.
| Patrol borough command | General area covered |
| Patrol Borough Bronx North | Northern Bronx precincts |
| Patrol Borough Bronx South | Southern Bronx precincts |
| Patrol Borough Brooklyn North | Northern and central Brooklyn precincts |
| Patrol Borough Brooklyn South | Southern Brooklyn precincts |
| Patrol Borough Manhattan North | Upper Manhattan and Central Park |
| Patrol Borough Manhattan South | Lower and Midtown Manhattan |
| Patrol Borough Queens North | Northern and western Queens precincts |
| Patrol Borough Queens South | Southern and eastern Queens precincts |
| Patrol Borough Staten Island | All Staten Island precincts |
Each precinct is responsible for patrol, initial crime reports, local investigations, community policing and neighbourhood quality-of-life concerns within its boundaries.
Precinct numbers do not run consecutively from 1 to 78. New York uses historically assigned precinct numbers, including commands such as the Midtown North, Midtown South and Central Park precincts.
Residents should use the NYPD Precinct Finder and enter the exact street address. ZIP codes, neighbourhood names and borough boundaries are not sufficient for identifying the correct precinct because one ZIP code may include more than one police command.
Transit and Housing Police Services
The NYPD also has 12 Transit Bureau districts responsible for policing the city’s subway system. Transit officers patrol stations, platforms, trains and other New York City Transit property.
Public housing developments are served through nine Housing Bureau Police Service Areas, commonly called PSAs. These units work with local precincts while concentrating on New York City Housing Authority properties.
An incident on a subway train or platform can be reported through 911 during an emergency. Riders may also speak with an officer, conductor, station employee or use available emergency communication equipment.
Main NYPD Bureaus and Specialised Units
The NYPD is much larger than its geographic precinct system. Its principal functions include patrol, investigations, transit policing, housing policing, transportation, counterterrorism and administrative support.
Specialised units investigate:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Sexual offences
- Domestic violence
- Child abuse
- Missing persons
- Hate crimes
- Financial crimes
- Cybercrime
- Auto theft
- Narcotics
- Gang-related crime
- Organised crime
- Terrorism and intelligence matters
Operational units include Emergency Service, Aviation, Harbor, Mounted, Canine, Highway Patrol and Strategic Response personnel.
A case may begin with uniformed precinct officers and later be transferred to a detective squad or citywide specialised unit. The assigned unit depends on the crime, available evidence and seriousness of the investigation.
What County Is the NYPD In?
The NYPD does not operate within one county. It serves all five New York City boroughs, each of which corresponds to a separate county.
| Borough | County |
| The Bronx | Bronx County |
| Brooklyn | Kings County |
| Manhattan | New York County |
| Queens | Queens County |
| Staten Island | Richmond County |
NYPD jurisdiction is based on New York City boundaries rather than county lines. The department therefore provides local police services across all five counties.
Other agencies may have primary jurisdiction over certain locations. These include the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police, Port Authority Police, New York State Police, United States Park Police and federal law-enforcement agencies.
The exact location and nature of an incident determine which agency should take the report. During an emergency, call 911 and allow dispatchers to route the call correctly.
How to File an NYPD Police Report
Crimes in progress must be reported through 911.
For crimes that are no longer happening, a person may file a qualifying report through NYPD Online or visit the local precinct. Not every incident is eligible for online reporting.
The reporting person should be prepared to provide:
- The exact incident location
- Date and approximate time
- Names or descriptions of involved people
- Witness contact information
- Vehicle descriptions and licence-plate numbers
- Photographs or recordings
- Serial numbers for stolen property
- Receipts or proof of ownership
- Details about physical evidence
Visit a precinct or call 911 when the incident involves violence, a known suspect, immediate danger, a weapon or evidence that officers need to collect.
A person can receive police assistance regardless of age or immigration status. Language interpretation is also available through the emergency communications system.
Obtaining a Crime or Lost-Property Report
A person who reported a crime or lost property can request a Verification of Incident. This verification confirms that an incident was reported but is not the complete complaint report used by investigators.
Requests may be submitted online or by mail. The verification is returned by mail and is not issued from the public counter at Police Headquarters.
Mail requests are sent to:
- NYPD Criminal Records Section
- Verification Unit
- 375 Pearl Street, Suite 4, 16th Floor
- New York, NY 10038
The Criminal Records Section is not open to the public. Verification reports are currently provided without a fee.
An authorised representative requesting a report for another person may need a notarised authorisation and supporting identification.
Obtaining a Collision Report
A person involved in a motor-vehicle collision can request the police collision report from the precinct where the collision occurred during the first 30 days after filing.
Collision reports may also be retrieved through the NYPD online Collision Report Retrieval Portal. It can take up to seven business days after the incident for a report to appear.
After 30 days, collision reports are transferred to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Requests made after that period must generally be submitted to the DMV.
Call 911 when a collision involves injuries, a suspected impaired driver, a hit-and-run driver who may still be nearby or another immediate roadway danger.
Property and Evidence Retrieval
The NYPD Property Clerk Division receives, stores and returns property taken into police custody. This may include evidence, found property, prisoner property, cash, jewellery and vehicles.
Before going to a Property Clerk office, contact the precinct where the property was taken. The precinct can confirm where it is being stored and whether it has been authorised for release.
Property connected to an active prosecution cannot normally be released until the investigating officer, prosecutor or court approves its return.
The main Property Clerk Division is located at:
- 11 Front Street
- Brooklyn, NY 11201
The telephone number is 718-624-8789.
Separate property offices serve the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
Towed and Seized Vehicles
New York City uses different facilities for vehicles towed because of parking violations and vehicles seized by police for investigative or legal reasons.
NYPD Auto Pounds hold vehicles seized because:
- The driver was arrested.
- The vehicle is evidence in an investigation.
- The vehicle was seized through a legal proceeding.
The main Auto Pounds are:
| Auto pound | Address | Phone number |
| Erie Basin Auto Pound | 700 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 | 718-246-2031 |
| Springfield Gardens Auto Pound | 174-20 North Boundary Road, Springfield Gardens, NY 11430 | 718-553-9555 |
Vehicle owners should call before visiting to confirm the location, release status, required documents and applicable charges.
A vehicle towed only for parking violations may be held at a Department of Finance or city tow pound rather than an NYPD Auto Pound.
NYPD and New York City Jail Services
NYPD officers make arrests and may temporarily hold a person at a precinct or central booking location. However, the NYPD does not operate New York City’s correctional facilities.
City detention facilities are managed by the New York City Department of Correction. People can use the city’s Person in Custody Lookup to find someone held in Department of Correction custody.
The lookup does not include people still in police custody or people held by state or federal authorities.
General correction-related enquiries and concerns may be made through 311. The Department of Correction’s Office of Constituent and Grievance Services can also be contacted at 718-546-1500 during weekday business hours.
A recently arrested person may not appear immediately in the correctional lookup while identification, arraignment and transfer procedures are underway.
Complaints About NYPD Officers
Complaints involving corruption or serious internal misconduct may be submitted to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau at 212-741-8401. The bureau accepts complaints by telephone, email, mail and in person. Complaints can also be made at any NYPD precinct or police facility.
The independent Civilian Complaint Review Board, or CCRB, handles complaints involving:
- Excessive or unnecessary force
- Abuse of authority
- Discourtesy
- Offensive language
The CCRB can be contacted at 800-341-2272.
A complaint should include the incident date, time, location, officer’s name or shield number when known, witness details and available photographs or recordings. A person may still file a complaint without knowing the officer’s identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I file an NYPD report at any precinct?
A: A precinct may provide assistance, but the report is normally handled by the command responsible for the location where the incident occurred. Using the Precinct Finder before visiting can prevent delays.
Q: Can I report a stolen vehicle online?
A: A stolen vehicle should be reported immediately through 911 or at the nearest precinct so it can be entered into law-enforcement databases without delay.
Q: Can tourists report a crime after leaving New York City?
A: Some qualifying incidents may be reported through NYPD Online. For other cases, contact the precinct where the incident occurred and explain that you are no longer in the city.
Q: Does the NYPD operate Rikers Island?
A: No. Rikers Island and other city correctional facilities are operated by the New York City Department of Correction.
Q: How can I find the precinct for Times Square?
A: Times Square is primarily served by the Midtown South Precinct. However, the exact location should be checked because nearby blocks may fall under another command.
Q: Can I obtain a complete detective case file?
A: Usually not through an ordinary verification request. Investigative records may contain confidential information and may be withheld while a case is active.
Q: Where should I report a crime on the subway?
A: Call 911 during an emergency or speak with an NYPD Transit Bureau officer. The Transit Bureau, rather than the local street precinct, generally handles crimes on subway property.
Q: How long does a collision report take to appear online?
A: It may take up to seven business days. During the first 30 days, a copy may also be requested from the precinct where the collision occurred.
Q: Can someone else collect my property from the NYPD?
A: Possibly. Written or notarised authorisation, identification and proof of ownership may be required. Contact the precinct or Property Clerk office before visiting.
Q: Is New York City located in one county?
A: No. New York City consists of five boroughs corresponding to five counties: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens and Richmond.