By Amelia Anderson The Westminster Police Department, commonly known as WPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving the City of Westminster, California. Its responsibilities include emergency response, patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, animal control, evidence management and community policing.
Call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is in immediate danger, a weapon is involved or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is required. For non-emergency police assistance, call 714-548-3212. The non-emergency dispatch line operates 24 hours a day.
Westminster Police operates from one principal station at the Westminster Civic Center. Patrol services are geographically organized into East and West areas rather than separate public precinct stations. The department is currently led by Police Chief Darin Lenyi.
Westminster Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Westminster Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | WPD |
| Police station address | 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Building 5, Westminster, CA 92683 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency dispatch | 714-548-3212 |
| General information | 714-898-3315 |
| Watch Commander | 714-548-3767 |
| Desk Officer | 714-548-3219 |
| Police Records | 714-548-3218 |
| Investigations Bureau | 714-548-3207 |
| Property and Evidence | 714-548-3216 |
| Professional Standards Unit | 714-548-3202 |
| Traffic Unit | 714-548-3220 |
| Animal Control | 714-548-3201 |
| Crime Analysis | 714-548-3206 |
| Police chief | Darin Lenyi |
| Patrol areas | East and West |
| County | Orange County |
| Area served | Locations within Westminster city limits |
| Orange County inmate information | 714-647-4666 |
| Orange County Intake and Release Center | 550 N. Flower Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703 |
The department’s principal telephone numbers and service-counter hours are published in its current contact directory.
Westminster Police Department Address
The main police facility is located at:
- Westminster Police Department
- 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Building 5
- Westminster, California 92683
The department is located within the Westminster Civic Center. Its entrance faces the courthouse area rather than Westminster Boulevard.
Public services available at the station include:
- Filing general police reports
- Obtaining police and traffic reports
- Reporting identity theft and fraud
- Citation correction sign-offs
- Missing-person and runaway reports
- Lost-and-found property reports
- Vehicle releases
- Property and evidence services
- Complaint intake
The Desk Officer counter is generally open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Records counter is generally open Monday through Friday during the same hours. Property and Evidence services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Service availability differs by counter, so calling before visiting is advisable.
Important Westminster Police Phone Numbers
Call 911 when:
- A crime is actively taking place
- Someone is in immediate danger
- A firearm, knife or another weapon is involved
- A suspect remains at or near the scene
- Someone has suffered a serious injury
- Domestic violence is occurring
- A serious collision requires emergency assistance
- Urgent police, fire or medical services are needed
Call 714-548-3212 for non-emergency matters such as:
- A crime discovered after the suspect has left
- Delayed theft or property damage
- Suspicious conduct without an immediate threat
- A burglary discovered later
- A stolen vehicle or licence plate
- Noise and disturbance complaints
- An incident involving a known suspect
- A request for police assistance that is not urgent
The Emergency Communications Center operates 24 hours a day and serves as the city’s public-safety answering point for 911 calls. It also receives and dispatches non-emergency calls for police service.
General department information is available at 714-898-3315. Residents who need to contact an on-duty police supervisor can call the Watch Commander at 714-548-3767.
Westminster Police Patrol Areas
Westminster’s Operations Division provides 24-hour patrol and emergency response. Its geographic structure currently includes:
- East Area
- West Area
Each area has an assigned commander responsible for patrol operations, officer deployment and recurring public-safety concerns.
These areas are internal operating boundaries rather than public police precincts. Residents do not need to identify their patrol area before calling. Dispatchers use the complete incident address to determine which officers should respond.
Patrol officers normally provide the first response to an incident. Their work includes:
- Protecting victims and injured people
- Securing crime scenes
- Searching for suspects
- Interviewing victims and witnesses
- Collecting preliminary evidence
- Preparing police reports
- Enforcing criminal and traffic laws
- Conducting neighbourhood patrols
- Addressing recurring quality-of-life concerns
The Operations Division also includes traffic enforcement, animal control and homeless-outreach functions.
Department Divisions
WPD’s principal organizational sections include Operations, Support Services and Management Services.
1. Operations Division
The Operations Division manages frontline police services, including:
- Uniformed patrol
- Emergency response
- Traffic enforcement
- Animal control
- Homeless outreach
- Emergency preparedness
- Community problem-solving
The Traffic Unit investigates serious collisions, handles traffic enforcement and responds to traffic-related community complaints. Its main number is 714-548-3220.
Animal Control can be contacted at 714-548-3201 for qualifying animal-related concerns. Emergencies involving an immediate threat from an animal should be reported through 911 or police dispatch.
2. Support Services Division
The Support Services Division manages investigations and several specialized police functions.
It includes:
- Investigations Bureau
- Crime Analysis
- Forensic Services
- Property and Evidence
- Professional Standards
The Investigations Bureau handles cases involving crimes against people, property and the public.
Investigative responsibilities include:
- Homicide and robbery
- Serious assaults
- Domestic violence
- Gang-related offences
- Burglary
- Vehicle theft
- Theft from vehicles
- Fraud and forgery
- Identity theft
- Computer crime
- Narcotics and vice offences
Not every report is assigned to a detective. Assignment may depend on the seriousness of the offence, available evidence, identifiable suspects and workable investigative leads.
3. Management Services Division
Management Services handles the administrative systems needed for daily police operations.
Its responsibilities include:
- Police Records
- Court liaison services
- Budget and payroll
- Research and planning
- Department technology
- Alarm administration
- Subpoena processing
- Permits and licensing
The Records Division also enters information about missing people, stolen property, firearms, warrants, impounded vehicles and restraining orders into state law-enforcement databases.
What County Is the Westminster Police Department In?
The Westminster Police Department is located in Orange County, California.
WPD serves locations within the legal boundaries of the City of Westminster. It is separate from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which operates county jail facilities and provides law-enforcement services to unincorporated communities and contract cities.
Nearby cities such as Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Seal Beach and Santa Ana have separate police departments.
Some addresses may use Westminster as their postal city while being located outside municipal boundaries. The exact address where the incident occurred determines which law-enforcement agency should take the report.
Filing a Westminster Police Report
A police report may be initiated by:
- Calling 911 during an emergency
- Calling 714-548-3212 for a non-emergency
- Calling general information at 714-898-3315
- Visiting the Desk Officer counter
The Desk Officer counter accepts reports involving general crimes, identity theft, fraud, missing people, runaways and lost or found property.
The department’s current public reporting pages do not advertise a broad self-service online system for ordinary theft, burglary or vandalism reports. Online resources are mainly provided for specific issues such as crime tips, police misconduct and identity-theft information. General crime reports should therefore be made through dispatch or the Desk Officer.
Call 911 rather than using a delayed reporting method when:
- Someone is injured or in danger
- The suspect remains at the scene
- A weapon is involved
- Domestic violence is happening
- A child or vulnerable adult faces immediate danger
- Important evidence may be destroyed
- A crime is actively occurring
After filing, keep the police case number. It may be needed when requesting a copy, contacting investigators, submitting additional evidence or making an insurance claim.
Obtaining a Police Report
Police reports are requested through:
- Westminster Police Department Records Division
- 8200 Westminster Boulevard
- Westminster, CA 92683
- Telephone: 714-548-3218
A report may be requested in person or by submitting a completed request form by mail. However, the department does not mail the completed report back to the requester because staff must verify identification before release. The requester is contacted when the document is ready for collection.
Bring:
- Valid photo identification
- Police case number, when available
- Incident date and location
- Names of involved people
- Proof of involvement or legal authorization
Reports commonly take approximately 10 to 14 days. Same-day release is not guaranteed because staff may need to review and redact protected information.
The current standard charge is 30 cents per page. Some reports may be withheld or partly redacted because of an active investigation, juvenile information, victim privacy or confidential investigative material.
Property, Evidence and Towed Vehicles
The Property and Evidence counter can be contacted at 714-548-3216.
The unit stores:
- Crime-scene evidence
- Found property
- Recovered stolen items
- Property held for safekeeping
- Seized property
- Items awaiting court proceedings
Evidence cannot normally be released until the assigned investigator, prosecutor or court removes the hold. The owner should bring identification, proof of ownership and the police case number.
Vehicle releases are handled through Records. The owner must generally provide valid registration, a valid driver’s licence and proof of insurance.
Current city fees are:
- Stored-vehicle release: $305
- Impound or 30-day-hold release: $375
These police fees are separate from towing and storage charges collected by the towing company.
Complaints About Westminster Police Conduct
Complaints involving a WPD employee are handled by the Professional Standards Unit.
Professional Standards Unit: 714-548-3202
A complaint may be submitted:
- In person
- By telephone
- By letter
- Through any police supervisor
- Anonymously
Residents may also call the Watch Commander at 714-548-3767.
Useful complaint information includes:
- Date and approximate time
- Exact location
- Officer’s name or badge number
- Police vehicle information
- Report or citation number
- Witness details
- Photographs, audio or video
- A clear explanation of what occurred
The officer’s name is helpful but not required. Professional Standards investigates allegations involving criminal conduct, employee misconduct and unnecessary or excessive force.
Arrests and Orange County Jail Information
Westminster Police performs arrest booking and temporary custody functions. Depending on the charge, court order and custody decision, an arrested person may be released, cited, taken to court or transferred to an Orange County jail facility.
Orange County inmate information is available from:
- Orange County Inmate Records
- 550 North Flower Street
- Santa Ana, CA 92703
- Telephone: 714-647-4666
The Intake and Release Center at the same address can be contacted at 714-647-6063. The Sheriff’s Department also provides an online inmate-information system, although users may need to create an account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Westminster Police non-emergency number?
A: Call 714-548-3212 for delayed crimes, suspicious activity without immediate danger and other non-emergency police matters.
Q: Does Westminster have several police precinct stations?
A: No. WPD primarily operates from one police station at the Civic Center. East and West are patrol-service areas rather than separate public precinct buildings.
Q: Can I file an ordinary theft report entirely online?
A: The department’s current public website does not advertise a broad online reporting portal for ordinary crimes. Call dispatch or visit the Desk Officer counter.
Q: How do I locate someone arrested by Westminster Police?
A: For a recent arrest, call WPD at 714-898-3315. After transfer into county custody, use the Orange County inmate-information system or call 714-647-4666.