By Amelia Anderson The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Raleigh, North Carolina. It handles emergency response, uniformed patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, evidence management, special operations and community-policing programs.
Call 911 when police are needed without delay—for example, during an active assault, burglary in progress, serious threat, weapon-related incident or emergency where someone could be harmed. For a crime that has already occurred and does not require an immediate response, call 919-829-1911. General police information is available at 919-996-3335.
RPD operates through six geographic police districts: Northwest, North, Northeast, Southeast, Downtown and Southwest. The department is currently led by Police Chief Rico Boyce.
Raleigh Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Raleigh Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | RPD |
| Current headquarters | 111 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency police number | 919-829-1911 |
| General police information | 919-996-3335 |
| Police chief | Rico Boyce |
| Police Records | 919-996-3325 |
| Internal Affairs / Professional Standards | 919-996-3155 |
| Evidence and Found Property | 919-996-3407 |
| Detective Division | 919-996-3555 |
| Special Operations Division | 919-996-5279 |
| Crime Stoppers | 919-996-1193 |
| Police districts | Six |
| County | Wake County |
| Online reporting | Available for selected non-emergency incidents |
| Wake County Detention Center | 3301 Hammond Road, Raleigh, NC 27610 |
| Detention information | 919-773-7930 |
RPD moved its headquarters from 6716 Six Forks Road to 111 W. Hargett Street in July 2026. The Downtown and Hospitality District also moved to the Hargett Street location. Six Forks Road remains the North District station and houses other police functions.
Raleigh Police Department Address
The current headquarters is: 111 West Hargett Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
- General information: 919-996-3335
The headquarters relocation places the Chief’s Office and department leadership in downtown Raleigh. RPD announced the move on July 16, 2026, replacing the former headquarters at 6716 Six Forks Road.
The headquarters building also serves as the Downtown District station.
Residents needing an officer for a non-emergency should generally call 919-829-1911 rather than travelling to headquarters. District offices are not staffed around the clock and should not be relied on for urgent police response.
Raleigh Police Districts
RPD divides Raleigh into six geographic districts.
| District | Address | Phone |
| Downtown | 111 W. Hargett Street | 919-996-3855 |
| North | 6716 Six Forks Road | 919-996-3335 |
| Northeast | 5230 Greens Dairy Road | 919-996-2457 |
| Northwest | 8016 Glenwood Avenue | 919-996-2300 |
| Southeast | 2800 Rock Quarry Road | 919-996-4455 |
| Southwest | 601 Hutton Street | 919-996-6167 |
The current city directory confirms these six district locations.
Downtown District
The Downtown District operates from 111 W. Hargett Street and includes central Raleigh, Glenwood South and Moore Square.
The district also contains the Hospitality District, which coordinates the Hospitality Unit, TRACE Unit and DWI Unit to address policing and safety issues in busy entertainment areas.
North and Northwest Districts
The North District operates from 6716 Six Forks Road and serves areas including North Hills, Lake Lynn and the Duke Health Raleigh Hospital area.
The Northwest District at 8016 Glenwood Avenue is RPD’s largest geographic district. Its service area includes Brier Creek, Crabtree Valley Mall, Umstead State Park and portions of Lake Lynn.
Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Districts
The Northeast District operates from 5230 Greens Dairy Road and covers areas extending toward Wakefield, Triangle Town Center and Durant Nature Park.
The Southeast District at 2800 Rock Quarry Road serves areas around WakeMed Raleigh Campus, Walnut Creek Amphitheatre and Saint Augustine’s University.
The Southwest District operates from 601 Hutton Street and includes areas around NC State University, Hillsborough Street, Western Boulevard, Pullen Park and several historic neighbourhoods.
Residents do not have to determine their district before requesting police assistance. Dispatch personnel can identify the correct patrol area from the incident address.
Raleigh Police Department Divisions
RPD’s current organizational structure includes the Office of the Police Chief and major divisions responsible for field operations, investigations, administration, special operations and community engagement.
Field Operations Division
Field Operations provides most day-to-day police services. Uniformed patrol officers respond to calls and conduct preventive patrol throughout the six districts.
Their responsibilities include:
- Responding to criminal incidents
- Assisting victims
- Securing crime scenes
- Searching for suspects
- Interviewing witnesses
- Making arrests
- Investigating traffic collisions
- Enforcing traffic laws
- Mediating disputes
- Working with neighbourhoods on recurring problems
Field Operations also includes the Hospitality District, Flex Unit and Code Enforcement Unit.
Detective Division
The Detective Division conducts follow-up and specialized criminal investigations.
Its units include:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Aggravated Assault
- Burglary
- Auto Theft Task Force
- Financial Crimes
- Fraud
- Special Victims
- Family Violence Intervention
- Gang Suppression
- Street Drugs
- Human Exploitation and Trafficking
- Digital Forensics
- Fugitive investigations
- Criminal Enterprise investigations
- Crash Reconstruction
Detectives may work with crime analysts and other agencies to identify suspects, gather evidence and establish connections between related crimes.
Not every police report is automatically assigned to a detective. The availability of evidence, seriousness of the offence and presence of useful investigative leads can affect follow-up.
Special Operations Division
Special Operations provides additional resources for incidents or enforcement activities requiring specialized training.
Its major units include:
- Selective Enforcement Unit
- Traffic Enforcement Unit
- Special Projects Unit
- K-9 Unit
- Mounted Unit
- Animal Control
- Police Desk Operations
The division also develops plans for major police operations and large public events.
Administrative Services
Administrative Services supports both officers and the public through:
- Police Records
- Information Services
- Training
- Recruitment
- Evidence
- Department property
- Court liaison services
- Police vehicle support
The Evidence Unit receives and securely stores found property and criminal evidence.
What County Is the Raleigh Police Department In?
The Raleigh Police Department is located in Wake County, North Carolina.
RPD is a city police department, not a countywide law-enforcement agency. Its normal jurisdiction is the City of Raleigh.
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office is a separate agency. It provides law-enforcement services primarily in unincorporated Wake County and is also responsible for judicial and detention services.
Other municipalities in Wake County, such as Cary, Wake Forest, Apex, Garner, Morrisville and Holly Springs, have their own municipal police departments.
A Raleigh postal address does not always guarantee that RPD has jurisdiction, particularly near municipal boundaries. Providing the exact incident address helps dispatch determine the correct agency.
Filing a Raleigh Police Report
RPD provides several ways to report a crime:
- Call 911 when immediate assistance is needed
- Call 919-829-1911 for a non-emergency crime
- Use the online reporting system for qualifying incidents
Current online-report categories include:
- Credit-card theft
- Identity theft
- Damage to property
- Damage to a vehicle
- Harassing phone calls
- Lost property
- Stolen property
- Theft from a vehicle
- Hit-and-run crashes involving less than $1,000 in damage
The online system asks eligibility questions before accepting the report. A temporary copy can be printed immediately, while RPD reviews the submission before assigning the permanent report number.
Online reporting should not be used when a serious injury occurred, a suspect may still be present or an immediate police response is necessary.
Anonymous crime tips can be submitted to Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-996-1193.
Obtaining a Raleigh Police Report
Police reports are handled by:
Raleigh Police Records Division
6716 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
Telephone: 919-996-3325
Although RPD headquarters moved downtown in July 2026, the department’s current Records page continues to direct report requests to the Six Forks Road location in the North District.
Incident reports may be requested by email or telephone. Providing the report number makes the search easier.
RPD crash reports are available electronically to eligible parties, including:
- People involved in the crash
- Attorneys representing an involved person
- Insurance companies representing an involved person
Crash-report copies can also be obtained without charge by visiting the Records counter.
Evidence and Found Property
The Evidence Unit can be contacted at:
Telephone: 919-996-3407
The unit stores found property, recovered stolen items and criminal evidence. The public service location is currently associated with the Downtown District.
Property that has been cleared for return is generally released by appointment:
- Tuesday: 8:30 a.m.–noon
- Thursday: 1:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
A person collecting property must appear in person and provide identification. Property not collected within 180 days after notification may be disposed of according to applicable law or court order.
Evidence required for an active investigation cannot normally be released until the assigned officer or detective approves it.
Towed Vehicles
RPD is responsible for removing certain abandoned or nuisance vehicles from public streets and city property. Owners generally must pay applicable towing and storage charges directly to the towing company before recovering the vehicle.
Parking-related towing is handled partly through Raleigh Parking. A vehicle with three or more qualifying unpaid citations may be booted and later towed if the outstanding charges are not resolved. Raleigh Parking can be contacted at 919-996-3996.
For a vehicle removed during a criminal investigation or police incident, call 919-829-1911 to determine the appropriate release procedure and towing company.
Complaints About Raleigh Police Employees
Complaints about RPD officers or employees are handled through the Internal Affairs Unit within the Office of Professional Standards.
Internal Affairs / Professional Standards: 919-996-3155
A complaint may be submitted:
- In person
- By telephone
- By letter
- By email
Internal Affairs is responsible for receiving, processing and supervising investigations of alleged employee misconduct or criminal conduct.
Useful complaint details include the date, time, location, officer’s name if known, report or citation number, witness information and any photographs or recordings.
Wake County Detention Center
RPD does not operate the county jail. People arrested by Raleigh Police who require continued detention may enter facilities managed by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, whose responsibilities include county detention services.
The primary facility is:
Wake County Detention Center
3301 Hammond Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
Detention information: 919-773-7930
Wake County also uses the John H. Baker Jr. Public Safety Center at 330 S. Salisbury Street for detention-related operations. Current custody information can be checked through the Sheriff’s Police-to-Citizen inmate system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Raleigh Police non-emergency number?
Call 919-829-1911 when police assistance is needed but the incident does not require an immediate emergency response.
Q2. How many Raleigh Police districts are there?
RPD has six districts: Northwest, North, Northeast, Southeast, Downtown and Southwest.
Q3. Where is the current Raleigh Police headquarters?
RPD headquarters moved in July 2026 to 111 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. The former headquarters at Six Forks Road now operates as the North District station and continues to house certain police services.
Q4. Does Raleigh Police operate the Wake County Detention Center?
No. Raleigh Police makes arrests and investigates crimes, while the Wake County Sheriff’s Office provides county detention services.