General Services Information

Listed below are some topics and questions that are commonly asked of the Division of Police by citizens of Columbus. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact the Division's Information Desk at 645-4760, or e-mail it to the
Division of Police at e-mail@columbuspolice.org

Headquarters Information	Filing Compliments and/or Complaints	Involved in an accident?
Filing Reports	Filing Criminal Charges
Being Fingerprinted	Missing Persons



Where is the Division of Police Headquarters located?: The Columbus Division of Police Headquarters is located at 120 Marconi Blvd. in downtown Columbus. This address is at the corner of Marconi Blvd. and West Long Street. Our mailing address is:

Columbus Division of Police
120 Marconi Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43215
When is it open?: The Division of Police Headquarters building is open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, including all holidays. However, most public contact offices are open during regular business hours. For specific information about the Bureau or Unit you wish to contact, please refer to the Division Phone Directory for a direct phone number.


What number do I call?: In emergency situations: DIAL 9-1-1
For non-emergency calls for service dial 645-4545.
For general information call 645-4760.
For specific information refer to the Division Phone Directory.

How do I compliment an officer?: To compliment or show appreciation for a service provided by the Columbus Division of Police and/or a specific Division officer or employee, call the Patrol Administrative Office at 645-4580. If you don't know the name or badge number of the officer, please be as specific about the time, location, and type of service that was given. That information will help the Division of Police identify the personnel involved.

How do I complain about an officer?: To complain about the service provided by, or some specific action taken by, the Columbus Division of Police and/or a specific Division officer or employee, call the Internal Affairs Bureau at 645-4880. If you don't know the name or badge number of the officer, please be as specific about the time, location, and type of incident which occurred. That information will help the Division of Police identify the personnel involved and investigate your complaint further.

How do I make a report?: In emergency situations: DIAL 9-1-1
In non-emergency situations: To report a crime to the Columbus Division of Police, you need to call the police radio room at (614) 645-4545. If you are hospitalized with injuries that prevent you from calling the police, either the Division of Fire or the hospital will contact the Division of Police as soon as it is practical.

Can I make a report over the telephone?: Any reports involving personal injury, missing persons, property losses of more than $3000.00, offenses with a suspect and/or evidence left at the scene, and burglary will be taken by an officer at the scene. All other callers will be transferred or referred to the Telephone Reporting Unit to make their report over the phone. You may contact the Telephone Reporting Unit at 614-645-4717. You may contact the Telephone Reporting Unit TDD line at 614-645-4969. The Telephone Reporting Units hours of operation are:
: Monday-Friday 7am to 6:30pm

We are closed Saturdays, Sundays and all Holidays.

The Telephone Reporting unit will take calls to request a house watch, lost or stolen property including cell phones, theft from a motor vehicle or vehicle parts, vandalism (intended destruction of property), property damage (for example tree branches falling on a car), theft of mail, harassing phone calls, lost or stolen trash cans or recycle bins, or if you are a business reporting shoplifting or gasoline theft. If you would like to make a report after hours, we have an automated system to take your report for your convenience. The reports will be made available within 48 hours.


How do I add items to a theft report that I have already made with the police?: To add items to a theft or burglary report, download a "Continuation Form" by clicking here, fill it out and return it to the Division of Police via U.S. Mail.

Alternatively, you can contact the Police Radio Room at (614) 645-4545 and an officer will respond with a Division "Continuation Form." After completing the form, you may mail it back to the Division of Police and the additions will be made to your report.

Where do I go for a copy of a report?: You can obtain a copy of any accident or offense report (taken by the Columbus Division of Police) by coming to the 2nd floor of police HQ between 9 AM - 4:45 PM, Monday through Friday.
: If you do not need an OFFICIAL copy of a crime report, and a synopsis of the incident is sufficient, you can view the officer's preliminary investigation online.
: Accident reports are currently not available on-line.; If you have filed a report with another police agency within the Greater Columbus area, you will need to contact that agency to obtain copies of the report.

How much does it cost?: It currently costs $.05 per page to obtain a copy of a report at Headquarters. Reports obtained via our website are free.

How do I file criminal charges on someone?: For Misdemeanor Offenses: To file misdemeanor charges on an individual, you will need that person's name, address, date of birth, and social security number.You will take that information to the Columbus City Attorney: Prosecutor's Division, 375 S. High Street, 7th floor, Columbus, OH 43215. In most cases, filing a report with the Columbus Division of Police before reporting to the Prosecutor's Office is recommended, but not mandatory. The hours of operation for the Prosecutor's Office are:

Monday - Friday	9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday	10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday	CLOSED

For further information contact the Prosecutors office at: 645-7483.

For Felony Offenses: If sufficient cause exists and a report has been filed with the Columbus Division of Police on a crime which meets the criteria for a felony offense, the appropriate Bureau assigned to that type of crime, ie: Vice Bureau, Detective Bureau, etc., will conduct an investigation. If there is sufficient evidence to proceed with felony charges, those charges will be filed on behalf of the victim by the investigating unit.
Can the Division of Police file the charges for me?: Generally speaking, Columbus Police Officers may only file misdemeanor charges in cases where they actually observed the offense taking place. Under specific circumstances set forth by law and Division policy, however, officers may be able to file misdemeanor charges in the following situations without observing the violation:

Offenses of Violence as defined in Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.) Section 2901.01
Criminal Child Enticement - O.R.C. 2905.05
Public Indecency - O.R.C. 2907.09
Domestic Violence or Violation of a Protection Order - O.R.C. 2919.25 or 2919.27
Menacing by Stalking - O.R.C. 2903.211
Aggravated Trespassing - O.R.C. 2911.211
Certain theft offenses, as defined in O.R.C. 2913.01(K)
Driving Under the Influence - O.R.C. 4506.15
Traffic Offenses which result in a collision

What do I do if I'm in an accident?: In emergency situations: DIAL 9-1-1
When you are in a collision involving a motor vehicle as defined in Ohio Revised Code, you are required by law to check for any injured parties and exchange information (name, address, Ohio Driver's License Number, vehicle license, and insurance police number/agent) with all those involved. (Ohio Revised Code 2135.12-14) If your vehicle is blocking the roadway, but no one is injured, you may pull off to the side of the road at the next safe location before calling the police. However, if there are injured parties involved or if your vehicle is damaged to the extent that it cannot be moved, contact the Columbus Division of Police immediately and wait for police officers to arrive before moving your vehicle. The Division of Police will immediately dispatch medical personnel when injured persons are at scene.


What if the other driver leaves the scene before the police arrive?: If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision and the other driver leaves the scene before exchanging information with you, attempt to get any identifying information that you can on the other car and its driver. This includes vehicle make and model, color, license plate, and any identifying feature such as noticible damage and/or markings. You should also try to get a good look at the driver. Try to identify their sex, age, race, hair color, and/or style, and any clothing they may have had on. This infomation will assist the officers responding to the scene to identify and file charges on the driver at a later time.; If you have already exhanged information with the other driver and they leave the scene, give all the information they gave to you to the reporting officer so that he or she may include it in the report.

What if the police are not taking accident reports at the scene?: In some circumstances, the Columbus Division of Police may not be taking any motor vehicle collision reports that only involve property damage, and no injury. This may occur during very inclement weather or if there is a critical incident occurring within the City which demands a large police response.
If you are involved in a collision and officers are not responding, exchange information with the other involved parties and within 24-hours report to the Police Headquarters Information Desk (Main Lobby) to complete a report. The officers at the Information Desk will give you further instructions at that time.; Or you may obtain an accident report online. The reports are available in .pdf format and must be printed out at home and either mailed or brought to Police Headquarters. The Division of Police does not accept faxed accident reports.
Where do I go for a copy of the report?: To obtain a copy of an accident report filed with the Columbus Division of Police, come to the Division of Police Public Service office. It is located on the 2nd floor of Police Headquarters and is open to the public Mon-Fri, 9a-4:45p. Offense Reports are available online, by clicking on "Offense Reports" on the main menu of the Columbus Division of Police homepage.; If you have filed a report with another police agency within the Columbus-Metro area, you will need to contact that agency to obtain copies of the report.

Why would I want to have my fingerprints taken?: Many employers require you to have your fingerprints taken during the employment application process. The fingerprints are submitted to the State of Ohio and/or FBI for a criminal background check.

Where do I get my fingerprints taken?: You may have your fingerprints taken at 120 Marconi Blvd (Police Headquarters) in the Indentification Unit Public Service Office located on the 2nd floor. The hours are: Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Phone: 614-645-4696.
Electronic Fingerprinting Services: Electronic Fingerprinting is now required by the State of Ohio in most cases. The Columbus Division of Police utilizes the National WebCheck Service to achieve this requirement. This service results in a criminal background check that will be mailed to your employer from the State of Ohio and/or FBI.

Inked Fingerprinting Services: In some unique cases, inked fingerprinting is needed. We provide this service; however, the submission of the fingerprint card(s) to the State and/or FBI will be the responsiblity of the customer or employer.
What do I need to bring with me?: Your need to bring a photo ID that includes your date of birth, current address, and the name and address of the employer to whom the results will be sent. The agency or business requesting that you have your fingerprints taken should provide you with a fingerprint card if one is needed.
How much does it cost?: $10.00 for each inked fingerprint card (does not include the State/Federal fees for submission for criminal background checks); $36.00 for electronic fingerprint transmission to the State of Ohio; $38.00 for electronic fingerprint transmission to the FBI; $60.00 for electronic fingerprint transmission to both the Sate of Ohio and the FBI

*Fees are payable by cash or money order/personal checks made payable to "City of Columbus Treasurer-Police".

In emergency situations: DIAL 9-1-1
In non-emergency situations, contact the Columbus Division of Police Radio Room at 645-4545 and an officer will be sent to your location as soon as possible.
How long must I wait before I can file a report?: There is no time limit before you can file a report. You may contact the police for a report as soon as you realize the person is missing. A missing person is defined as, "...any person who is absent from where they are supposed or expected to be, and at least one of the following apply:
What happens after I file a missing person's report?: The missing person's information (name, date of birth, description, etc) is entered into a nationally linked computer system within 12-hours. If foul play is suspected, or the missing person is under the age of 12 or is otherwise deemed unable to care for themselves, a search of the immediate and surrounding areas will begin at once.