Chicago, IL non-emergency police number
Source: chicago.gov · checked October 25, 2026. This city routes non-emergency police calls through its 311 service line. 311 only works from inside the city — from outside, use the department's main line on the official page linked above.
- someone is hurt or in danger
- a crime is happening right now
- there is a fire or a crash with injuries
Chicago, IL had 2,746,388 residents at the 2020 Census and is served by the Chicago Police Department - Headquarters, within Cook County. Use the number above for anything that is not an emergency; call 911 if anyone is in danger.
Chicago also runs a 311 service for city matters — parking, noise, abandoned vehicles, street and sanitation problems. Dial 311 from inside the city, and use the police number above for anything involving a crime or a police report.
When to call 911 instead
Call 911 if any of this is true right now:
- Someone is injured, unconscious, or threatening to hurt somebody.
- A crime is in progress, or the suspect is still nearby.
- There is a fire, a gas smell, or a crash with injuries or blocked traffic.
- You are not sure. A dispatcher would rather triage one unnecessary 911 call than miss a real one.
Use the non-emergency number for things that have already finished and nobody is in danger:
- A theft, burglary, or vandalism discovered after the fact, including when you need a report number for insurance.
- A car blocking a driveway or hydrant, an abandoned vehicle, a parking complaint.
- Noise, a loud party, fireworks, or a barking dog.
- A minor collision with no injuries where the vehicles have been moved.
- Found property, a follow-up on an existing case, or a general question for Chicago Police Department - Headquarters.
Non-emergency lines are usually answered by the same communications centre as 911, but at a lower priority — expect to hold, and expect to be asked whether anyone is in danger.
Chicago law enforcement agency
Chicago, IL 60653
County sheriff — Cook County
If the incident happened outside the city limits, or you need the county jail, civil process, or court security, the sheriff's office handles it.
Official services and forms
311 and 211
311 is for city services rather than policing — potholes, missed collections, street lights, parking, and in some cities non-emergency police reports. Where a city runs a 311 service, the page says so above.
211 is a free nationwide line for health and human services: housing, food, utility assistance, mental health, and crisis support. It is operated by local United Way and partner organisations and is available in most of the country by dialling 211 or through 211.org.
Questions about calling Chicago police
What is the non-emergency police number for Chicago, IL?
311 — published by Chicago Police Department - Headquarters and checked on October 25, 2026.
Can I call this number to report a crime that already happened in Chicago?
Yes — that is what it is for. Have the address, the time, a description of what was taken or damaged, and any suspect or vehicle description ready. Ask for the case or report number before you hang up; insurers almost always want it.
Is the Chicago non-emergency line answered 24 hours a day?
Most non-emergency lines ring into the same communications centre as 911 and are answered around the clock, but some ring a front desk that closes in the evening. If nobody answers and the matter is genuinely urgent, call 911.
What if the incident was outside Chicago city limits?
Unincorporated parts of Cook County are covered by the sheriff's office, on (312) 443-5500. See the Cook County page.
Official sources used on this page
This page was last verified against its sources on October 25, 2026. Source URLs are re-requested on a rolling monthly cycle; see Methodology.