San Diego Non-Emergency Police Phone Numbers by City

When you need to talk to police about something that isn't an active emergency — a fender-bender on a side street, a stolen catalytic converter discovered overnight, a noise complaint, a found wallet — calling 911 ties up a line that someone else may need urgently. Use the non-emergency line for the agency that has jurisdiction over your location.

Non-emergency police directory

Agency	Non-emergency number
San Diego Police Department (SDPD) — City of San Diego	619-531-2000
Chula Vista Police Department	619-691-5151
El Cajon Police Department	619-579-3311
National City Police Department	619-336-4411
Escondido Police Department	760-839-4722
Oceanside Police Department	760-435-4900
La Mesa Police Department	619-667-1400
Carlsbad Police Department	760-931-2197
Coronado Police Department	619-522-7350
San Diego County Sheriff — covers Santee, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Imperial Beach, Vista, Encinitas, Poway, San Marcos, and the unincorporated county	858-565-5200
California Highway Patrol (CHP) non-emergency — for any state highway or freeway	1-800-TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247)

When to call non-emergency vs 911

Call 911 if:

• A crime is happening right now or just happened
• Anyone is injured or in immediate danger
• You see a fire, downed power line, or hazardous material
• You're witnessing a vehicle collision with injuries or blocked lanes
• A driver is behaving in a way that endangers others (suspected DUI in progress, road rage, hit and run unfolding)

Call the non-emergency line if:

• You need to file a report on something that already happened with no ongoing danger (theft from your car overnight, cold burglary, vandalism)
• You want to report a parking issue, noise complaint, or quality-of-life concern
• You need a police report number for an insurance claim on a minor accident with no injuries
• You found property and want to turn it in
• You have a question about a citation or a process

Which agency has jurisdiction?

Cities with their own police department (SDPD, Chula Vista, El Cajon, etc.) handle calls within their city limits. The San Diego Sheriff handles unincorporated areas of the county and several contract cities that don't have their own department. The CHP handles all California state highways, freeways, and interstates regardless of which city they pass through — so a breakdown or accident on I-5, I-8, I-15, I-805, SR-94, SR-163, SR-52, SR-78, SR-67, or SR-125 is a CHP matter, not a city police matter.

If you're not sure who has jurisdiction, call the closest city's non-emergency line. They will route you or transfer you.