The non-emergency number for the Morgantown Police Department in West Virginia is 304-284-7522, extension 0.1Morgantown Police Department. Contact Use it for crimes that are not in progress, past thefts, noise complaints, minor fender benders, and other police matters where no one is in immediate danger. If someone’s safety, health, or property is actively at risk, call 911 instead.
The line connects to the dispatch center, which is staffed around the clock and also handles patrol coordination.1Morgantown Police Department. Contact The department’s headquarters is at 300 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505, if you need to walk in for records or in-person questions.2Morgantown, WV. Morgantown Police Department
Other Numbers You May Actually Want
Before you dial dispatch, make sure the city police are the right agency for your situation.
Anonymous Tips
If you want to pass information to detectives without identifying yourself, call the anonymous TIPS line at 304-284-7520. The line goes straight to voicemail, and detectives review and follow up on messages.3Morgantown, WV. Morgantown Police Department Opens Anonymous TIPS Line Because no one is listening live, don’t use it for anything happening right now.
WVU Campus
Incidents on West Virginia University property are handled by WVU Police, not city police. Their non-emergency number is 304-293-2677. The main office is in the Chestnut Ridge Building at 886 Chestnut Ridge Road, with a satellite office on the first floor of the Mountainlair.4WVU Police Department. Contact Us Anything off campus but inside Morgantown city limits goes to the city non-emergency line.
Animal Control
Morgantown contracts animal control through the Monongalia County K-9 Adoption Center. For stray dogs, aggressive animals, or injured wildlife, call 304-291-7267.5Morgantown, WV. Staff Directory – Animal Control If an animal is actively attacking someone, that’s 911.
Non-Emergency or 911?
The quick test: if nobody is in danger right now and the situation isn’t getting worse by the minute, the non-emergency line is correct. Typical reasons people call 304-284-7522 include:
- A theft or break-in you discovered after the fact, where the suspect is long gone but you need a report on file
- Loud parties, late-night noise, or construction running outside normal hours
- Minor traffic collisions with no injuries and no vehicles blocking traffic
- Vehicles that have been abandoned on a public street or dumped somewhere unusual
- Found wallets, phones, or other property you want to turn in
- Suspicious activity that looks off but poses no immediate threat, like someone trying door handles down the block
Call 911 instead for any crime in progress, a medical emergency, a fire, domestic violence, a car crash with injuries, or an armed or dangerous person. The department specifically directs anyone needing immediate police attention or reporting a crime in progress to call 911.3Morgantown, WV. Morgantown Police Department Opens Anonymous TIPS Line If you’re unsure, call 911. A dispatcher can downgrade the call; the reverse costs time you may not have.
What to Have Ready Before You Dial
A little preparation makes the call shorter and gives the responding officer something to work with. Pull together as much of this as you can:
- The exact address, or the nearest intersection and a landmark if you don’t have one
- When the incident happened, or when you first noticed it
- Descriptions of anyone involved: height, build, clothing, direction of travel
- Vehicle details, including color, make, model, and any part of a license plate you caught
- A good callback number, since the responding officer may need more detail later
If you’re reporting property damage or a theft and plan to file an insurance claim, photograph the scene before anything gets moved or cleaned up.
What Happens After You Call
Non-emergency calls are queued behind active emergencies, so expect a brief hold during busy periods. Once a dispatcher picks up, they’ll confirm your location, ask what happened, and enter the details into the dispatch system. From there, a few things can happen:
- An officer is dispatched to the scene when one becomes available, typical for suspicious activity or a minor accident
- An officer calls you back later to take a statement by phone, common for after-the-fact reports where there’s nothing to inspect
- The matter is documented at the time of the call without a separate officer response, for things like turning in found property
Ask for the case or reference number before you hang up and write it down. You’ll need it to check the status of your report, request a copy, or hand it to your insurance company.
Getting a Copy of Your Report
Criminal reports can be looked up through an online portal hosted by Monongalia County 911 at monongalia-911-wv.zuercherportal.com.6Morgantown Police Department. Safeguarding the Community Certified copies of accident reports have to be requested by phone or in person: call 304-284-7522 with the date of the incident and the names of the people involved, and expect to pay a fee. Bring a valid photo ID if you’re picking the report up at Spruce Street. Sensitive details, including victim names, minors’ identities, and medical information, may be redacted before release.
A Word on False Reports
Fabricating a crime or lying to police about what happened is a crime in itself. Under West Virginia Code 61-6-20, knowingly reporting a false emergency incident or filing a fabricated police report is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. A second offense, or a first offense that causes someone to be injured, becomes a felony carrying one to five years in prison and fines of $5,000 to $10,000.7West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 61-6-20 – Falsely Reporting an Emergency Incident A court can also order you to reimburse every agency that responded for the full cost of the response.