By Amelia Anderson The San Diego Police Department, commonly known as SDPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency responsible for policing the City of San Diego, California. Its duties include responding to emergency calls, patrolling neighbourhoods, investigating crimes, enforcing traffic laws, assisting victims and operating crime-prevention and community-policing programs.
SDPD divides the city into nine geographic patrol divisions. Residents should contact the division covering the address where an incident occurred rather than automatically visiting police headquarters. Call 911 when someone is in immediate danger or a crime is taking place. For incidents that are not emergencies, call the department’s non-emergency number or file an online report when the incident meets the department’s requirements.
San Diego Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | San Diego Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | SDPD |
| Headquarters address | 1401 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Emergency phone number | 911 |
| Non-emergency number | 619-531-2000 |
| Alternate non-emergency number | 858-484-3154 |
| 911 center from outside San Diego | 619-531-2065 |
| Police Records Unit | 619-531-2846 |
| Internal Affairs Unit | 619-531-2801 |
| Property and Evidence Unit | 619-531-2866 |
| Tow Administration | 858-495-7830 |
| Crime Stoppers | 888-580-TIPS |
| Family Justice Center | 619-533-6000 |
| County | San Diego County |
| Number of patrol divisions | Nine |
| County jail and custody information | 619-409-5000 |
San Diego Police Department Headquarters Address
The San Diego Police Department’s principal administrative headquarters is located at:
- San Diego Police Department
- 1401 Broadway
- San Diego, California 92101
The headquarters contains administrative offices and several specialized units, including Internal Affairs. It is not always necessary to visit headquarters to report a crime. Depending on the situation, residents may call 911, use the non-emergency number, complete an eligible report online or visit their nearest patrol station.
Anyone planning to visit a police facility should confirm its public-counter hours before travelling. Station hours can vary, and some services are handled only by appointment or during weekday business hours.
Important San Diego Police Phone Numbers
Call 911 when:
- A crime is currently happening.
- Someone is injured or in immediate danger.
- A weapon is involved.
- A serious traffic accident has occurred.
- A person requires urgent police, fire or medical assistance.
For non-emergency police assistance, call 619-531-2000 or 858-484-3154. These numbers may be used for incidents that are no longer in progress, suspicious activity without an immediate threat and situations where an officer may need to take a report.
People calling San Diego’s emergency communications center from outside the city can use 619-531-2065. This may be useful when someone needs to report an emergency affecting a person or property in San Diego but is calling from another location.
Other useful numbers include:
- Child Abuse Unit: 619-531-2260
- Domestic Violence Unit: 619-533-3500
- Elder and Dependent Abuse Unit: 619-446-1070
- Financial Crimes Unit: 619-446-1031
- Homicide Unit: 619-531-2293
- Robbery Unit: 619-531-2299
- Sex Crimes Unit: 619-531-2210
- Narcotics Unit: 619-531-2468
- Records Unit: 619-531-2846
- Internal Affairs: 619-531-2801
- Tow Administration: 858-495-7830
These specialized numbers are generally intended for information and case follow-up. They should not replace 911 during an emergency.
San Diego Police Department Patrol Divisions
SDPD operates nine geographic patrol divisions. Division boundaries are designed for police operations and do not always match ZIP codes, council districts or commonly recognised neighbourhood boundaries.
| Patrol division | Address | Phone number |
| Central Division | 2501 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92102 | 619-744-9500 |
| Eastern Division | 9225 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123 | 858-495-7900 |
| Mid-City Division | 4310 Landis Street, San Diego, CA 92105 | 619-516-3000 |
| Northeastern Division | 13396 Salmon River Road, San Diego, CA 92129 | 858-538-8000 |
| Northern Division | 4275 Eastgate Mall, La Jolla, CA 92037 | 858-552-1700 |
| Northwestern Division | 12592 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130 | 858-523-7000 |
| Southeastern Division | 7222 Skyline Drive, San Diego, CA 92114 | 619-527-3500 |
| Southern Division | 1120 27th Street, San Diego, CA 92154 | 619-424-0400 |
| Western Division | 5215 Gaines Street, San Diego, CA 92110 | 619-692-4800 |
The Western Division facility has recently been listed as closed to the public for certain walk-in services. Residents should call before visiting. The non-emergency number can also identify the correct reporting option or patrol division for a particular address.
Areas Covered by the Patrol Divisions
Central Division serves downtown and surrounding areas such as the Gaslamp Quarter, East Village, Little Italy, Barrio Logan, Golden Hill, Logan Heights and South Park.
Eastern Division covers communities including Kearny Mesa, Mission Valley East, Serra Mesa, Tierrasanta, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Grantville and San Carlos.
Mid-City Division serves neighbourhoods such as North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington, Talmadge, City Heights, Colina del Sol, El Cerrito and Rolando.
Northeastern Division covers Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Sabre Springs, Miramar and San Pasqual.
Northern Division serves areas including La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, Clairemont, Bay Park and University City.
Northwestern Division covers Carmel Valley, Del Mar Heights, Black Mountain Ranch, Sorrento Valley, Torrey Highlands and nearby northern communities.
Southeastern Division serves Skyline, Paradise Hills, Encanto, Valencia Park, Mountain View, Lincoln Park, Oak Park and neighbouring communities.
Southern Division covers San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Nestor, Palm City, the border area and the Tijuana River Valley.
Western Division serves Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Linda Vista, the Midway District, Old Town and western Mission Valley.
Main Divisions and Specialized Units
The nine patrol divisions are supported by investigative and operational units. A case may begin with a patrol officer and later be transferred to detectives based on the type and seriousness of the crime.
SDPD has units dealing with:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Domestic violence
- Child abuse
- Sex crimes
- Financial crimes
- Gangs
- Narcotics
- Internet crimes against children
- Elder and dependent adult abuse
- Missing-person and juvenile cases
- Traffic investigations
The department also operates specialized services involving SWAT, canine teams, criminal intelligence, forensic testing, property and evidence, neighbourhood policing and homeless outreach.
The Neighborhood Policing Division works with other city and community agencies to address recurring quality-of-life problems, homelessness and people who may require behavioural-health or social services.
What County Is the San Diego Police Department In?
The San Diego Police Department is located in San Diego County, California.
SDPD provides police service within the legal boundaries of the City of San Diego. It does not serve every community in San Diego County.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement in unincorporated county areas and in certain cities that contract with the Sheriff’s Office. Other cities, including Chula Vista, National City, La Mesa, El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and Carlsbad, operate their own police departments.
Incidents occurring on California freeways may fall under the jurisdiction of the California Highway Patrol. Crimes on certain university campuses, military properties, transit facilities or federal land may also be handled by another agency.
The location where the incident happened normally determines which department should take the report.
How to File a San Diego Police Report
Some non-emergency crimes can be reported through SDPD’s online reporting system.
Eligible incidents may include:
- Catalytic-converter theft
- Identity theft
- Lost or stolen property
- Fraudulent use of a payment card
- Harassing electronic messages
- Certain thefts
- Vandalism
- Hit-and-run collisions without injuries, evidence or suspect information
The person filing online must generally be at least 18 years old, have a valid email address and be reporting an incident that occurred within the City of San Diego.
Online reporting cannot be used when:
- The suspect is known.
- Physical evidence must be collected or tested.
- Violence, assault or robbery occurred.
- A weapon was used.
- A vehicle or licence plate was stolen.
- The incident occurred outside San Diego.
- The incident is still happening.
- Someone requires immediate assistance.
After submission, the person receives a temporary report number. SDPD reviews the report and assigns an official case number after approval. The department may contact the reporting person when more information is needed.
How to Obtain a San Diego Police Report
Police reports may include crime reports, arrest reports and event or incident reports. A person requesting a report should provide the case number, incident date, location and names of the people involved whenever possible.
Most eligible crime and incident reports cost $12. Only the first page of an arrest report may ordinarily be released through the standard process, with a listed charge of 50 cents.
A third party may collect a report on behalf of a victim when the person has written authorization, valid identification and the required fee.
Traffic-collision reports generally require approximately three to 10 business days to be processed and approved for release. After seven business days, a requester may contact the Records Unit at 619-531-2846 to check whether a report is ready.
Reports may be redacted or withheld when they contain confidential victim information, juvenile information, protected personal details or material that could interfere with an investigation. Arrested people and suspects generally obtain reports through their legal representatives and the court discovery process.
Traffic Accidents and Hit-and-Run Reports
Call 911 when a traffic collision involves injuries, an immediate road hazard, a suspected impaired driver or another urgent danger.
SDPD may not dispatch an officer to every property-damage-only collision. Drivers may be instructed to exchange identifying, vehicle and insurance information.
A hit-and-run collision may be reported online only when there are no injuries, no available evidence, no known suspect information and the report is primarily needed for insurance purposes.
Collisions occurring on a freeway should generally be reported to the California Highway Patrol rather than SDPD.
Vehicle Impounds and Towing
People who believe their vehicle was towed by the City of San Diego can search through the city’s contracted vehicle-location service or call 619-527-4392.
When the vehicle cannot be located through the towing search, call the SDPD non-emergency number at 619-531-2000.
Questions concerning a police impound or a post-storage hearing can be directed to Tow Administration at 858-495-7830. A registered or legal owner requesting a post-storage hearing generally must do so within 10 days of the mailed impound notice.
San Diego Police Department and County Jail Services
SDPD officers investigate crimes and make arrests, but the department does not operate San Diego County’s jail system.
County detention facilities are operated by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. The centralized custody information number is 619-409-5000.
The San Diego Central Jail is located at:
- 1173 Front Street
- San Diego, CA 92101
It is the primary intake facility for adult male detainees in San Diego County. Anyone seeking booking, visitation or custody information should contact the Sheriff’s Office rather than the SDPD Records Unit.
Complaints About Police Conduct
A complaint involving an SDPD officer or employee can be submitted to the department’s Internal Affairs Unit.
Internal Affairs can be contacted at 619-531-2801. Complaints may be filed online, by email, by telephone, in person or by mail. Anonymous complaints are also accepted through the online process.
Complaints may also be submitted through the independent San Diego Commission on Police Practices. The commission is located at 525 B Street, Suite 1725, San Diego, CA 92101, and can be contacted at 619-533-5304.
A complaint should include the incident date, location, officer’s name or identification number when known, witness information and a clear description of what happened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I visit any SDPD station to file a report?
A: A patrol station may accept certain reports or direct you to the correct service. However, public-counter hours vary. Call the division before visiting, especially if you plan to go to the Western Division facility.
Q: Can I report a stolen vehicle online?
A: No. Stolen vehicles and stolen licence plates cannot be reported through the standard online system. Call the non-emergency number at 619-531-2000. Call 911 when the theft is happening or creates an immediate danger.
Q: What should I do when I know who committed the crime?
A: Do not use the online reporting system when the suspect is known. Call the non-emergency number and provide the person’s name, description, vehicle information and any available evidence.
Q: Can SDPD take a report for a crime that happened in Chula Vista?
A: Generally, no. Chula Vista has its own police department. The incident should normally be reported to the agency responsible for the place where it occurred.
Q: Does SDPD investigate incidents on interstate highways?
A: Freeway incidents are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. Call 911 during an emergency, and the dispatcher will direct the call to the appropriate agency.
Q: Can I receive a police report immediately after filing it?
A: Not usually. Reports must be reviewed and processed. Traffic-collision reports commonly take three to 10 business days, while other reports may take longer depending on the case.
Q: How can I find out whether my vehicle was impounded?
A: Use the City of San Diego vehicle-location service or call 619-527-4392. When the vehicle cannot be found, call the SDPD non-emergency number.
Q: Can another person collect my police report?
A: A third party may be permitted to collect an eligible report when they have written authorization from the victim, valid identification and the required fee.
Q: Does SDPD operate San Diego Central Jail?
A: No. San Diego County detention facilities are operated by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. Call 619-409-5000 for custody and facility information.
Q: Can I submit a police complaint without giving my name?
A: Yes. SDPD’s online complaint process permits anonymous submissions. Providing contact information may, however, make it easier for an investigator to request additional details.