Indiana does not have a single statewide non-emergency police number. Instead, each city and county runs its own dispatch center, and Indiana non-emergency police numbers are 10-digit local lines you call when nobody is in immediate danger. Indianapolis uses 317-327-3811. Fort Wayne uses 260-427-1222. Using the right local number keeps 911 open for real emergencies and sends your report to officers who actually patrol your street.
Non-Emergency Numbers for Major Indiana Cities
These lines connect to trained dispatchers around the clock. They handle property crime reports, noise complaints, follow-ups, and general questions, and staff can transfer you if your issue belongs to another agency.
- Indianapolis (Marion County): 317-327-3811
- Fort Wayne (Allen County): 260-427-1222
- South Bend (St. Joseph County): 574-235-9201
- Tippecanoe County (Lafayette area): 765-423-9321
- Washington County: 812-883-5999
If Your City Isn’t Listed
Search your county name plus “non-emergency dispatch” online, or open your county sheriff’s or municipal police department website. The number is almost always on the homepage or contact page. Some counties have consolidated dispatch. Morgan County, for example, runs a single Public Safety Dispatch center that handles both sheriff and city police communications, so one number covers the whole county.1Morgan County, Indiana. Public Safety Dispatch / 911
When to Use the Non-Emergency Line Instead of 911
The simplest test: if nobody is in danger right now and nothing is actively happening, use the non-emergency number. Waking up to find your car broken into overnight, reporting a stolen bike, or filing a complaint about vandalism from the previous day all belong on the non-emergency line because the crime is over and the suspect is gone.2Tippecanoe County, IN. When to Call 911 A fire, a medical crisis, an assault in progress, a traffic accident with injuries, or any situation where someone could get hurt requires 911.3Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Washington County 9-1-1
Other common non-emergency examples include noise complaints about loud music or construction outside permitted hours, stray or barking dogs, abandoned vehicles on public roads, and cars parked across your driveway. Indianapolis routes animal nuisance complaints through the RequestIndy app and website rather than by phone, so residents there should check that portal first.4indy.gov. How to Report Animal Complaints In other counties, animal control calls typically go through the sheriff’s non-emergency line.5Hamilton County, IN. Animal Control
Not sure whether it’s an emergency? Call 911. Dispatchers would rather take a call that turns out to be non-urgent than have someone delay a real one, and they can always redirect you.
What to Have Ready Before You Call
A few details ready before you dial saves time for both you and the dispatcher:
- The exact street address or closest intersection where the incident happened. This determines which officers respond and which jurisdiction takes the report.
- When you noticed the incident and, if different, your best estimate of when it actually occurred.
- A short factual account of what happened.
- Any suspect or vehicle description. For vehicles, make, model, color, and license plate are the most useful. For people, note height, clothing, and direction of travel.
- Your name, phone number, and address for the report file.
If you have photos, security camera footage, or screenshots, keep the originals untouched and share copies. A timestamped file saved directly to your device is more useful to investigators than a photo of your screen taken with a second phone.
What Happens After You Call
The dispatcher assigns a priority based on severity and current department activity. Non-emergency calls sit behind active emergencies, so response times vary. For property crimes that happened hours or days ago, it’s common for an officer to call you back rather than come to the scene, especially when there’s no physical evidence to collect.
Ask for an incident number or case number before you hang up. That number is your key to everything afterward: filing an insurance claim, requesting a copy of the report, or following up on the investigation. Most departments charge a small administrative fee for physical copies, though the amount varies by jurisdiction.
Following up means calling the non-emergency line again and referencing your case number. Don’t expect rapid updates. Property crimes without strong leads often stay open but inactive, which reflects the reality of limited investigative resources. If you learn something new after filing, call back and add it to the existing report rather than starting a new one.
Filing a Non-Emergency Report Online
Several Indiana departments now let you file certain reports through a website instead of by phone. Indianapolis offers this through IMPD’s Community Online Reporting system, which accepts reports for theft, lost property, vandalism under $2,500 in damage, shoplifting, and failure to pay for services. The incident must have occurred within IMPD’s jurisdiction, the suspect cannot be someone you know by name, and it cannot involve a hate crime. If any of those conditions apply, you need to call 317-327-3811 instead.6indy.gov. IMPD Community Online Reporting
Traffic complaints in Indianapolis, including speeding, illegal parking, and drivers running red lights, can also be submitted online through the city’s traffic complaint portal.7City of Indianapolis. Submit a Traffic Complaint Not every Indiana department offers online filing. Smaller departments may still require a phone call or an in-person visit for all reports.
Anonymous Tips Are Different From Reports
If you want to share information about a crime without giving your name, Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana operates a tip line at 317-262-TIPS (8477), a toll-free line at 800-222-TIPS, a web form, and the P3Tips smartphone app. All three methods are anonymous, and phone lines are staffed around the clock.8Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana. Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana Many other Indiana counties run their own Crime Stoppers chapters with separate local numbers.
An anonymous tip is not a police report. It can start an investigation, but it does not create an incident number or a record you can reference for insurance purposes. If you need documentation of what happened to you, file a standard report through the non-emergency line.
Car Accidents on the Non-Emergency Line
Car accidents sit between emergency and non-emergency. If anyone is hurt or a vehicle is blocking traffic, call 911. For a fender bender with no injuries where both cars can move to the shoulder, the non-emergency line is appropriate. Under Indiana law, police are required to investigate any accident that causes injury, death, or property damage of at least $2,500.9Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-26-2-1 – Investigation of Accidents Resulting in Injury, Death, or Property Damage of at Least $2,500
Even when damage looks minor, drivers involved in a crash must file the state’s crash report form within ten days when the reporting officer determines that damage reaches the reporting threshold. The form asks for insurance policy numbers, a description of the damage, and how the collision happened. Exchange insurance information at the scene and photograph both vehicles, the road, and any debris before anything moves.
Accessibility for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Non-English Callers
Text-to-911 is designed for emergencies only and is not available for non-emergency situations.10Federal Communications Commission. Text to 911 – What You Need to Know To reach a non-emergency dispatch line, use a TTY/TDD device or an IP Relay service to call the 10-digit local number. Most Indiana dispatch centers can receive TTY calls. When connected, press the TTY keys several times so the system recognizes the call type, then wait for the dispatcher to respond with “GA” (go ahead).
Larger Indiana dispatch centers typically have real-time interpretation covering hundreds of languages. If the dispatcher can’t communicate with you directly, stay on the line while they connect an interpreter. A bilingual friend or family member can speed things up, but isn’t required.
Penalties for Filing a False Report
Everything you tell the dispatcher becomes part of an official record, and lying in that record is a crime. Under Indiana law, knowingly making a false crime report or giving false information to a law enforcement officer is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.11Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-44.1-2-3 – False Reporting, False Informing, Swatting12Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 35 Criminal Law and Procedure 35-50-3-3
The charge escalates if the false report substantially hinders law enforcement or harms another person, becoming a Class A misdemeanor with up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.11Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-44.1-2-3 – False Reporting, False Informing, Swatting13Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-50-3-2 – Class A Misdemeanor Swatting, which involves falsely reporting that someone is dangerous to trigger an armed police response, can be charged as a Level 6 or Level 5 felony depending on whether anyone is injured. Report honestly, or don’t report at all.