The Dallas Police Department’s main phone numbers are 911 for emergencies and (214) 744-4444 for non-emergencies. Beyond those two, DPD publishes direct lines for patrol divisions, investigative units, records, the auto pound, and internal affairs, and knowing the right Dallas Police Department phone numbers for your situation gets your call where it needs to go faster.
When to Call 911 vs. the Non-Emergency Line
Dial 911 for anything where someone’s life, safety, or property is in immediate danger: crimes in progress, serious injuries, fires, and medical emergencies. DPD’s stated goal is to reach Priority 1 emergency calls within eight minutes, though actual response times run higher in parts of the city.
For anything that doesn’t need an officer right now, call (214) 744-4444. That’s the right line for a theft that already happened, noise complaints, or suspicious activity that isn’t immediately threatening.1Dallas County. District 1 Helpful Numbers
Don’t confuse the police non-emergency line with 311. The 311 service (or 214-670-3111 from outside city limits) handles general city issues like potholes, code violations, and utilities, not police dispatch.2City of Dallas. About Dallas 311
Patrol Division Numbers
Each patrol division has its own administrative line for non-urgent business like neighborhood patrol questions, local safety meetings, or following up on a report. Don’t use these to report crimes in progress.3Dallas Police Department. Contact
- Central Operations Division: (214) 670-4413
- Northeast Operations Division: (214) 670-4415
- Southeast Operations Division: (214) 670-8345
- Northwest Operations Division: (214) 670-6178
If you don’t know which division covers your address, the main non-emergency line will route you.
Records, Reports, and Public Information
For copies of accident or police reports, call the Records Section at (214) 671-3345.3Dallas Police Department. Contact Public information requests, including body camera footage, can be emailed to openrecords@dallascityhall.com.4Dallas City News Hub. Changes to Citys Public Records Request Process
Prisoner Information and the Auto Pound
For information on someone in police custody, call (214) 761-9025. If the person is held at the Dallas Municipal Court Detention Center, call (214) 670-3999 instead.5City of Dallas. Dallas Municipal Court Marshals and Detention Location and Hours
To get a towed vehicle back, call the Auto Pound at (214) 670-5116. Pickup hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.6Dallas Police Department. Auto Pound
Investigative Unit Direct Lines
If your situation falls under a specific investigation, you can go directly to the unit handling it. The most commonly needed numbers come from DPD’s official contact directory:3Dallas Police Department. Contact
- Homicide Unit: (214) 671-3661
- Crimes Against Persons (assault, robbery, sexual assault): (214) 671-3584
- Domestic Violence Squad: (214) 671-4304
- Child Abuse Squad: (214) 275-1300
- Missing Persons Squad: (214) 671-4243
- Financial Crimes and Forgery: (214) 671-3543
- Auto Theft Unit: (214) 671-3535
- Narcotics: (214) 671-3120
Victim Services
Crime victims can reach the Victim Services Unit at (214) 671-3588 for help with counseling, safety planning, and navigating the criminal justice process. The Crimes Against Persons Division main line is (214) 671-3584.7Dallas Police Department. Victim Services
Complaints About an Officer
Complaints about officer conduct go to the Internal Affairs Division at (214) 671-3986.3Dallas Police Department. Contact You can also file through the Office of Community Police Oversight at (214) 671-8283, which provides independent civilian review.8City of Dallas. Office of Community Police Oversight If you’ve already filed with Internal Affairs, that office can also conduct an independent review of the facts, conduct, and procedures involved.9City of Dallas. Office of Community Police Oversight – Complaints
Mental Health and Crisis Lines
Not every crisis needs a police officer. Dallas runs the RIGHT Care program, which pairs paramedics with licensed mental health clinicians to respond to behavioral health emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.10City of Dallas. R.I.G.H.T. Care Program
For a life-threatening mental health emergency, still call 911. For situations that are serious but not immediately life-threatening, call the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority crisis hotline at 1-866-260-8000, staffed around the clock by mental health professionals.10City of Dallas. R.I.G.H.T. Care Program
Anonymous Tips
To report information about a crime without identifying yourself, call Crime Stoppers of North Texas at 1-877-373-TIPS (8477). Calls come in on a standalone phone with no caller ID and are not recorded. Tips leading to felony arrests and indictments may qualify for rewards up to $5,000.11North Texas Crime Commission. How it Works
When You Can Report Online Instead
Some reports don’t require a phone call at all. DPD’s Citizen Online Reporting System handles crimes like credit card abuse and identity theft, and kiosks are available at any Dallas Police substation. Online and mailed submissions require a color copy of a government-issued ID.12Dallas Police Department. How to Make a Police Report
Crimes involving violence, an identified suspect still in the area, or situations where evidence needs to be collected on scene should be reported by phone or in person.
What to Have Ready When You Call
What you tell the dispatcher shapes how fast officers can respond. Before dialing, note the exact street address or the nearest intersection. If there’s no street sign in sight, a nearby business name or landmark works.
For incidents involving vehicles, note the make, model, color, and license plate. A partial plate still helps. For descriptions of people, give specifics dispatchers can relay on the air: approximate height, clothing, direction of travel. “White shirt, heading south on Elm” is more useful than a vague physical description.
Once your call is logged, you’ll get an incident number. Write it down. That number is what you’ll use to pull up the report later, check the status of an investigation, or request documentation.