Tacoma Police Department: Address, Phone Number, Sectors and County

The Tacoma Police Department, commonly known as TPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Tacoma, Washington. It responds to emergencies, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws and provides specialised services involving violent crime, narcotics, gangs, community policing, K-9 operations, marine services and forensic investigations.

Tacoma Police uses a four-sector geographic policing system rather than traditional numbered precincts. The four sectors are grouped into North and South community-policing areas. Headquarters is located on South Pine Street, while several neighborhood substations support police-community services in different parts of Tacoma.

Residents should call 911 for emergencies or crimes currently in progress. For crimes and incidents that are not happening now, the main police non-emergency number is 253-287-4455.

Tacoma Police Department Quick Information

Tacoma Police Department Headquarters

Tacoma Police Headquarters is located at: 3701 S. Pine Street, Tacoma, Washington 98409

The department’s main information line is: 253-591-5950

For non-emergency police reporting and dispatch, call: 253-287-4455

Headquarters business hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., although patrol and emergency-response operations continue 24 hours a day.

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 creates an immediate danger.
• A missing person is believed to be in immediate danger.
• Immediate police, fire or medical assistance is required.

The non-emergency line should be used when an incident requires police attention but there is no immediate threat to life.

Important Tacoma Police Phone Numbers

Specialised numbers are mainly intended for follow-up, complaints and administrative assistance. New incidents should normally be reported through 911 or 253-287-4455.

Tacoma Police Sectors

Tacoma is divided into four geographic police sectors.

The current community-policing structure groups them as:

• North Area – Sectors 1 and 2
• South Area – Sectors 3 and 4

Each sector is further divided into smaller geographic areas that allow officers to focus on individual neighborhoods and recurring public-safety issues.

Residents do not need to know their sector before requesting an officer. South Sound 911 dispatchers determine the correct police response from the incident address.

Tacoma Police Substations

Tacoma has historically maintained neighborhood police substations to support its sector-based policing system.

Important locations include:

These neighborhood facilities primarily support community policing and local officer operations. They should not be treated as a substitute for calling 911 during an emergency.

Public access and volunteer desk availability can vary, so residents needing an in-person service should confirm availability before visiting.

North Community Policing Area

Tacoma’s North Community Policing Area includes Sectors 1 and 2.

It covers communities such as:

• West End
• North End
• Central Tacoma
• New Tacoma
• Northeast Tacoma
• Downtown areas

Community Liaison Officers work with neighborhood groups, business owners, residents and city agencies to address recurring problems.

The North Area also receives support from officers who focus on Tacoma’s downtown business districts.

Community-policing work can involve:

• Crime-prevention advice
• Neighborhood meetings
• Business safety
• Recurring nuisance problems
• Property-crime concerns
• Problem locations
• Community education

South Community Policing Area

The South Community Policing Area includes Sectors 3 and 4.

It covers:

• South Tacoma
• South End
• Eastside
• Surrounding southeastern neighborhoods

Community Liaison Officers work with residents and neighborhood organizations on crime reduction and quality-of-life issues.

The East Substation at 400 E. 56th Street also includes community meeting space used by residents and local organizations.

Tacoma Police Department Bureaus

Tacoma Police is organised into three major bureaus:

• Operations Bureau
• Investigations Bureau
• Administrative Services Bureau

Each bureau contains divisions, sections and specialised units.

Operations Bureau

The Operations Bureau provides most frontline police services.

Its major functions include:

• Patrol Division
• Community Policing Division
• Marine Services
• Dive Unit
• K-9 services

Patrol Division

Patrol officers respond to calls for service throughout Tacoma.

Their duties include:

• Responding to 911 calls
• Handling non-emergency incidents
• Conducting preliminary investigations
• Responding to domestic disturbances
• Conducting welfare checks
• Searching for missing people
• Investigating suspicious activity
• Enforcing traffic laws
• Responding to vehicle crashes
• Making arrests
• Providing visible neighborhood patrol

The first officer at a scene normally prepares the initial police report and gathers immediately available evidence.

Cases requiring more extensive investigation may later be assigned to detectives.

Community Policing Division

The Community Policing Division coordinates proactive policing in partnership with Tacoma residents and businesses.

It includes:

• North Community Policing Area
• South Community Policing Area
• Community Liaison Officers
• Gang Unit
• Animal Control
• Other community-focused resources

Community Liaison Officers are commissioned police officers with specialised training for this assignment.

They work with:

• Neighborhood councils
• Individual residents
• Business owners
• Community organizations
• Advocacy groups
• Other city departments

The goal is to address recurring problems before they develop into more serious public-safety concerns.

Investigations Bureau

The Investigations Bureau handles serious and complex criminal cases.

The main Criminal Investigations follow-up number is:

253-591-5934

The bureau includes:

• Criminal Investigations Division
• Violent Crimes Section
• Major Crimes Section
• Special Investigations
• Forensic Services

Violent Crimes

The Violent Crimes Section includes investigators who handle cases such as:

• Homicide
• Serious assault
• Sexual offences
• Other major crimes against people

Detectives may interview witnesses, review surveillance video, obtain warrants and work with prosecutors.

Major Crimes

Major Crimes handles investigations including:

• Domestic violence
• Juvenile-related cases
• Missing children
• Runaways
• Arson
• General-duty investigations
• Protection-order matters

Special Investigations

Special Investigations focuses heavily on narcotics and vice-related criminal activity.

These investigations may involve coordination with other local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies.

Forensic Services

Forensic Services personnel respond to crime scenes ranging from property crimes to homicides.

Their duties may include:

• Crime-scene documentation
• Photography
• Evidence recovery
• Fingerprint processing
• Other forensic examination

Administrative Services Bureau

The Administrative Services Bureau provides many of the behind-the-scenes services necessary for police operations.

Its responsibilities include areas such as:

• Recruitment
• Hiring
• Training
• Internal Affairs
• Police technology
• Department vehicles
• Administrative support

The bureau helps maintain department equipment, employee training, professional standards and internal systems.

What County Is Tacoma Police Department In?

Tacoma is located in Pierce County, Washington.

Tacoma Police provides municipal law-enforcement services within Tacoma city limits.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is a separate agency. It provides law-enforcement services in many unincorporated areas, operates the county jail system and performs other county-level functions.

Other law-enforcement agencies operating in the Tacoma area may include:

• Pierce County Sheriff’s Office
• Washington State Patrol
• Port of Tacoma security and law-enforcement partners
• University police agencies
• Federal law-enforcement agencies

Incidents on state highways may fall under Washington State Patrol jurisdiction.

The exact location of an incident determines which agency has primary responsibility.

How to File a Tacoma Police Report

Tacoma Police currently directs residents to different reporting methods depending on the incident.

Call 911 for:

• Life-threatening emergencies
• Crimes currently in progress
• Immediate danger

Call 253-287-4455 for crimes that are no longer in progress.

Certain property crimes can also be reported online.

Tacoma Online Police Reporting

Online reporting is available through TacomaSafe for selected incidents that are not currently in progress.

Examples include:

• Lost property
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Vehicle prowls

When an incident falls outside those online categories, call:

253-287-4455

Online reporting should not be used when:

• A crime is currently happening.
• Someone is in immediate danger.
• An urgent officer response is needed.
• Important evidence requires immediate collection.

After a police report is made, residents should keep the 10-digit case number shown on the blue Incident Notification Card.

The case number is important for later contact with police.

Updating an Existing Police Report

If a person needs to:

• Add information to a previously reported incident
• Correct information
• Update an active case
• Report that a stolen vehicle has been recovered

the person should call:

253-287-4455

Have the 10-digit police case number available.

For investigative follow-up, contact Criminal Investigations at:

253-591-5934

Reporting a Stolen Vehicle

A stolen motor vehicle should be reported directly through police non-emergency dispatch unless the theft is happening at that moment.

Call:

253-287-4455

Be prepared to 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
• GPS or tracking details

Call 911 when the vehicle theft is happening, violence is involved or the suspect remains nearby.

Before reporting a vehicle stolen, check whether it may have been legally towed, repossessed or moved by another authorised person.

Tacoma Police Reports and Public Records

The City of Tacoma Public Records Office handles requests for Tacoma Police Department records such as:

• Investigative files
• Administrative records
• Photographs
• Body-worn camera recordings
• In-car video
• Other department records

The Public Records Office is located at: 3628 S. 35th Street, Tacoma, WA 98409

Telephone: 253-231-0240

Public service hours are generally:

• Monday through Friday
• 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The city recommends using its online Public Records Request Center.

A request should provide as much identifying information as possible, including:

• Police case number
• Incident date
• Exact location
• Names of involved people
• Type of record requested
• Relevant date range

Police records may be redacted when disclosure is restricted by Washington law.

Requesting Ordinary Police Report Copies

South Sound 911 also provides services involving police report copies.

Residents can contact:

253-287-4455

Police report requests and broader public-record requests are not always the same process.

A simple incident report may be available through law-enforcement records channels, while requests for body-camera footage, investigative files or large collections of records normally go through Tacoma’s Public Records Office.

Traffic Collision Reports

Vehicle collision reports follow a separate process from many other Tacoma police records.

The City directs people seeking qualifying collision records to the appropriate collision-report system.

People requesting a crash report should have:

• Collision date
• Exact location
• Driver name
• Vehicle information
• Police case number when available

Serious or complicated collision investigations may take additional time before records become available.

Property and Evidence Retrieval

Tacoma Police maintains property taken during investigations, recovered property and items held for safekeeping.

A person seeking the return of property may need to complete a Property Claim Form.

The claim can be submitted to Tacoma Police Headquarters or another police station or substation.

Property needed as evidence normally cannot be released until:

• Criminal proceedings are completed, or
• The appropriate prosecutor determines that the item may be released.

A claimant should provide:

• Name and contact details
• Date the property was taken
• Police incident number
• Description of the property
• Proof of legal ownership or possessory interest

The review process may take up to approximately four weeks.

Firearms have additional legal release requirements under Washington law.

Towed and Impounded Vehicles

Tacoma Police may order vehicles towed for reasons including:

• Arrest-related circumstances
• Traffic hazards
• Abandoned vehicles
• Certain traffic violations
• Criminal investigations
• Evidence preservation

Tacoma does not use one single public police impound lot for every tow. Police-authorised vehicles may be taken to an approved private towing facility.

A person who believes a vehicle has been towed should call:

253-287-4455

Provide:

• Licence plate number
• Vehicle identification number
• Vehicle make and model
• Vehicle colour
• Registered owner’s name
• Location where the vehicle was parked

Dispatch or police personnel can help determine whether the vehicle was police-towed and identify the appropriate towing company.

The registered owner will generally need:

• Government-issued identification
• Proof of vehicle ownership
• Required release documents
• Payment of towing and storage charges

A vehicle being held as criminal evidence cannot normally be released until the police hold is removed.

Reporting an Abandoned Vehicle

Abandoned vehicles on Tacoma streets are handled through Tacoma FIRST 311.

Residents can:

• Dial 311 from within Tacoma.
• Call 253-591-5000 from outside Tacoma.
• Submit an abandoned-vehicle request through Tacoma FIRST 311.

The city generally handles abandoned vehicles on public streets. Vehicles abandoned on private property are usually the responsibility of the property owner, subject to Washington junk-vehicle procedures.

Tacoma Police and Pierce County Jail

Tacoma Police officers make arrests, but TPD does not operate the Pierce County jail system.

The jail is operated by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau.

The main facility is:

Pierce County Jail
910 Tacoma Avenue S.
Tacoma, Washington

A second jail facility is located at:

701 Nollmeyer Lane
Tacoma, WA 98402

Jail Booking and Reception:

253-798-4590

The Pierce County Corrections Bureau operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The jail system provides:

• Booking
• Secure inmate housing
• Medical care
• Mental-health services
• Pharmacy services
• Inmate programs
• Commissary
• Telephone services

The public can use the Pierce County Jail Roster to check current custody information.

A recently arrested person may not appear immediately while booking, identification and medical screening are being completed.

Complaints About Tacoma Police Employees

Complaints involving Tacoma Police officers or civilian employees may be submitted through the department’s complaint process.

Internal Affairs can be contacted at:

253-591-5283

Complaints can be submitted:

• In person at 3701 S. Pine Street
• To an on-duty officer or supervisor
• By telephone
• Through South Sound 911
• By mail
• Online through Tacoma FIRST 311
• Through Internal Affairs

Anonymous complaints are also accepted when enough information exists to investigate the allegation.

A useful complaint should include:

• Incident date and time
• Exact location
• Employee’s name when known
• Badge or vehicle information
• Police case number
• Witness information
• Photographs or video
• A clear description of what happened

Complaints may be investigated at the supervisory or bureau level or referred to Internal Affairs depending on the seriousness of the allegation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many Tacoma Police sectors are there?

Tacoma is divided into four police sectors. Sectors 1 and 2 make up the North Community Policing Area, while Sectors 3 and 4 make up the South Community Policing Area.

Q2. What is the Tacoma Police non-emergency number?

The current non-emergency police number is 253-287-4455. Call 911 for emergencies and crimes currently in progress.

Q3. Can I file a Tacoma police report online?

Yes. Selected incidents such as lost property, theft, vandalism and vehicle prowls can be reported online through TacomaSafe when the crime is no longer in progress.

Q4. How can I find out where Tacoma Police towed my vehicle?

Call 253-287-4455 with the licence plate number, VIN and vehicle information. Police or dispatch personnel can determine whether the vehicle was towed and identify the towing company.

Q5. Does Tacoma Police operate the Pierce County Jail?

No. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau operates the county jail system. Jail booking and reception information is available at 253-798-4590.