The Houston Police Department’s phone number for non-emergencies is (713) 884-3131. For anything happening right now — a crime in progress, a medical crisis, a fire — call 911. Those two numbers cover most calls, but HPD publishes direct lines for investigative divisions, records, towed vehicles, jail inquiries, and misconduct complaints, and calling the right one is faster than routing through a switchboard.
When to Call 911 vs. the Non-Emergency Line
Dial 911 when someone’s life, health, or property is in immediate danger. That includes crimes in progress, medical emergencies, fires, and any situation where seconds matter.
If you can’t safely make a voice call, you can text 911 instead. Open your messaging app, put “911” in the recipient field, and send your location, the type of help you need (police, fire, or medical), and a brief description. Stay in the conversation until the operator closes it, and skip emojis, slang, and group texts.1Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network. Text-to-9-1-1 Photos and videos sent directly to 911 will trigger an error; tell the operator you have them.
Call (713) 884-3131 for anything that already happened and isn’t ongoing: a car break-in you find in the morning, stolen packages, property damage. It creates an official incident report you can use for insurance or follow-up, and it keeps 911 clear for actual emergencies.2City of Houston. Houston Police Department – How to Contact HPD
Filing a Report Without Calling
For some low-level incidents you can skip the phone. HPD’s online form accepts reports for lost property (not firearms), theft up to $30,000 with no suspect information, theft of services, vandalism or criminal mischief with up to $5,000 in damage, and illegal dumping.3Houston Police Department. Online Police Report
You have to be the victim, not a witness or relative, and the incident must have happened inside Houston city limits. The system won’t take stolen vehicles, burglaries, hit-and-runs, traffic crashes, or anything requiring physical evidence collection. Any suspect information — a plate number, description, or surveillance footage — also pushes it off the online form and onto an officer.3Houston Police Department. Online Police Report
Direct Lines to HPD Investigative Divisions
If you know what kind of case you’re calling about, these direct numbers go straight to the unit that handles it:4Houston Police Department. Houston Police Department – Phone Directory
- Homicide: (713) 308-3600
- Robbery: (713) 308-0700
- Major Assaults: (713) 308-8800
- Narcotics: (713) 308-3300
- Vice: (713) 308-8600
- Auto Theft / Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: (713) 308-3500
- Property and Financial Crimes: (713) 308-0900
- Family Violence Unit: (713) 308-1100
- Sex Crimes (Adults): (713) 308-1180
- Special Victims: (713) 308-1140
- Vehicular Crimes: (713) 247-4072
- Environmental Investigations: (832) 394-0770
- Fugitive Detail: (713) 308-3198
- Cold Case Unit: (713) 308-3618
Getting a Copy of a Police Report
HPD’s Records Division handles offense report and crash report copies. Before you call, pull your ten-digit case number, the exact date of the incident, and the full names of everyone involved. Clerks use that information to find the file, and calling without it usually means calling back.
For crash reports, you don’t have to go through HPD at all. The Texas Department of Transportation is the state custodian and sells them online: $6 for a regular copy, $8 for a certified copy of the kind courts require. Delivery is by email.5Texas Department of Transportation. Crash Reports and Records
Some records aren’t released over the phone and need a written request under the Texas Public Information Act, submitted by mail, email, hand delivery, or another method the agency approves.6Office of the Attorney General. How to Request Public Information
Finding a Towed Vehicle
If HPD towed your car, the fastest option is the city’s search tool at FindMyTowedCar.com. You can search by license plate, VIN, make and model, or the date and location of the tow. Give it at least two hours after the tow before searching, since that’s how long it takes to appear in the system.7City of Houston. Find My Towed Car
To call instead, the tow inquiry line is (713) 308-8580. Have your VIN or plate number ready.8Houston Police Department. Auto Dealers Detail – Towed Vehicles FAQ
Locating Someone in Jail
After an arrest in Houston, where the person is held depends on the charges. The City of Houston runs municipal jail facilities for city charges. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office runs a separate and much larger system at the Joint Processing Center, 700 N. San Jacinto Street, for state-level charges and county court processing.9City of Houston. City of Houston Municipal Courts Department – Jail Information
For someone in the county system, the city directs callers to the Harris County Jail website or to the Houston 311 Help Line at (713) 837-0311. Have the person’s full name, date of birth, and any booking or case numbers ready.
Reporting Officer Misconduct
Two channels take complaints about HPD officers. The city’s Office of Inspector General, which includes the Office of Police Reform and Accountability, investigates employee misconduct. The OIG hotline is (832) 394-5100; you can also file through the OIG Public Complaint Form online or by mail to the Office of Inspector General, Post Office Box 368, Houston, TX 77001-0368.10City of Houston. Office of Inspector General
HPD’s Internal Affairs Division takes complaints directly at (713) 308-0040.4Houston Police Department. Houston Police Department – Phone Directory
Victim Services
If you or a family member has been the victim of a crime, HPD’s Victim Services Division helps with Crime Victims’ Compensation applications, counseling referrals, and social services. The main office at HPD Headquarters, 1200 Travis Street, is (713) 308-0080.11City of Houston. Victim Services
Satellite offices are at the patrol division stations:
- North Patrol Division (9455 W. Montgomery Rd.): (832) 394-3800
- Northeast Patrol Division (8301 Ley Rd.): (832) 394-1500
- Southeast Patrol Division (8300 Mydawa): (832) 394-1600
- Southwest Patrol Division (13097 Nitida St.): (832) 394-0400
- Westside Patrol Division (3203 S. Dairy Ashford): (832) 394-5600
When It’s Not a Police Matter
Potholes, broken streetlights, noise complaints, code violations, and other general city service issues go to the Houston 311 Help Line at (713) 837-0311, or 3-1-1 from a local phone. If you’re not sure whether police or a different city department should handle it, start there. Requests can also go through the city website or the Houston 311 app.12City of Houston. City of Houston eGovernment Center – Contact Us